reduction
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the act of making something smaller in size, amount, or degree.
the act or process of decreasing something in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
Simple“The company announced a major reduction in plastic waste this year.”
In context“The government is under pressure to implement a significant reduction in carbon emissions to meet international environmental targets.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
a lower price for something, like a discount in a shop.
the amount by which a price or value is lowered; a discount.
Simple“There is a 20% reduction on all winter coats today.”
In context“The retailer offered a substantial reduction on last season's inventory to clear space for the incoming spring collection.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
the process of boiling a liquid quickly to make it thicker and stronger in flavour.
the process of thickening and intensifying the flavour of a liquid mixture through rapid evaporation.
Simple“The chef made a balsamic reduction to drizzle over the salad.”
In context“Simmer the stock until it achieves a syrupy consistency, as a proper reduction is essential for a rich red-wine sauce.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
a chemical reaction where a substance gains electrons.
a chemical reaction involving the gain of electrons by a substance, often accompanied by the loss of oxygen.
Simple“In this experiment, the reduction of copper oxide produces pure copper.”
In context“The process of smelting involves the chemical reduction of metal ores to extract the pure metallic element.”
Antonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
a medical procedure to put a broken bone back into the right place.
a surgical or manual procedure used to restore a fracture or dislocation to its correct anatomical alignment.
Simple“The doctor performed a manual reduction to fix the patient's dislocated shoulder.”
In context“If the fracture is unstable, an open reduction with internal fixation may be required to ensure proper healing of the bone.”
Synonyms - 06 C1 Advanced
a simpler version of a piece of music, like an opera played only on a piano.
an arrangement of a musical work for a smaller number of instruments than the original.
Simple“The students practiced using a piano reduction of the full orchestral score.”
In context“The composer provided a keyboard reduction of the concerto to facilitate rehearsals before the full orchestra was available.”
Synonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of rewriting a math problem or expression into a simpler form.
the rewriting of a mathematical expression or problem into a simpler or more fundamental form.
Simple“The teacher explained the reduction of fractions to their lowest terms.”
In context“The proof relies on the reduction of the complex equation to a series of linear inequalities.”
Synonyms
Usage reduction lead · show reduction · significant reduction
“Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian The move is part of a plan drawn up by Keir Starmer’s government to fast-track the reduction of animals in research.”
“Solar power has seen dramatic cost reductions thanks to mass production.”
From Middle English reduccion, a borrowing from Old French reducion, from Latin reductiō, reductiōnem. Equivalent to reduce + -tion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.