reduce

reduce in size; reduce physically

“Hot water will shrink the sweater”

“Can you shrink this image?”

lessen and make more modest

“reduce one's standard of living”

make smaller

“reduce an image”

to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons

narrow or limit

“reduce the influx of foreigners”

put down by force or intimidation

“The government quashes any attempt of an uprising”

“China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently”

“The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land”

undergo meiosis

“The cells reduce”

reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site

destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it

reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

“The manuscript must be shortened”

be cooked until very little liquid is left

“The sauce should reduce to one cup”

cook until very little liquid is left

“The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time”

lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture

“cut bourbon”

take off weight