re·duc·tion (r -d k sh n)n.1. The act or process of reducing. 2. The result of reducing: a reduction in absenteeism. 3. The amount by which something is lessened or diminished: a reduction of 12 percent in violent crime. 4. Biology The first meiotic division, in which the chromosome number is reduced. Also called reduction division. 5. Chemistry a. A decrease in positive valence or an increase in negative valence by the gaining of electrons. b. A reaction in which hydrogen is combined with a compound. c. A reaction in which oxygen is removed from a compound. 6. Mathematics a. The canceling of common factors in the numerator and denominator of a fraction. b. The converting of a fraction to its decimal equivalent. c. The converting of an expression or equation to its simplest form.
[Middle English reduccion, restoration, from Old French reduction, from Latin reducti , reductin-, from reductus, past participle of red cere, to bring back; see reduce.]
re·duction·al adj. |
reduction Noun 1. the act of reducing 2. the amount by which something is reduced 3. a reduced form of an original, such as a copy of a document on a smaller scale reductive adj
reduction (r-dkshn)1. The changing of a fraction into a simpler form, especially by dividing the numerator and denominator by a common factor. For example, the fraction 8/12 can be reduced to 4/6 , which can be further reduced to 2/3 , in each case by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 2. 2. A chemical reaction in which an atom or ion gains electrons, thus undergoing a decrease in valence. If an iron atom having a valence of +3 gains an electron, the valence decreases to +2. Compare oxidation. Usage Beginning students of chemistry are understandably puzzled by the term reduction: shouldn't a reduced atom or ion be one that loses electrons rather than gains them? The reason for the apparent contradiction comes from the early days of chemistry, where reduction and its counterpart, oxidation, were terms invented to describe reactions in which one substance lost an oxygen atom and the other substance gained it. In a reaction such as that between two molecules of hydrogen (2H2) and one of oxygen (O2) combining to produce two molecules of water (2H2O), the hydrogen atoms have gained oxygen atoms and were said to have become "oxidized," while the oxygen atoms have (as it were) lost them by attaching themselves to the hydrogens, and were said to have become "reduced." Importantly, though, in the process of gaining an oxygen atom, the hydrogen atoms have had to give up their electrons and share them with the oxygen atoms, while the oxygen atoms have gained electrons. Thus comes the apparent paradox that the "reduced" oxygen has in fact gained something, namely electrons. Today the terms oxidation and reduction are used of any reaction, not just one involving oxygen, where electrons are (respectively) lost or gained. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  reduction - the act of decreasing or reducing somethingcut - the act of reducing the amount or number; "the mayor proposed extensive cuts in the city budget" mitigation, moderation - the action of lessening in severity or intensity; "the object being control or moderation of economic depressions" lowering - the act of causing to become less cutback - a reduction in quantity or rate devaluation - the reduction of something's value or worth alleviation, easement, easing, relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse for relief from the constant pain" de-escalation - (war) a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war) depletion - the act of decreasing something markedly shortening - act of decreasing in length; "the dress needs shortening" subtraction, deduction - the act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole); "he complained about the subtraction of money from their paychecks" deflation - the act of letting the air out of something rollback - reducing prices back to some earlier level weakening - the act of reducing the strength of something depreciation - a decrease in price or value; "depreciation of the dollar against the yen" contraction - the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope declassification - reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon tax shelter, shelter - a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings tax credit - a direct reduction in tax liability (not dependent on the taxpayer's tax bracket) | | 2. | reduction - any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agentchemical reaction, reaction - (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others; "there was a chemical reaction of the lime with the ground water" | | 3. | reduction - the act of reducing complexitychange - the action of changing something; "the change of government had no impact on the economy"; "his change on abortion cost him the election" |
The creation of lanes through a minefield or obstacle to allow passage of the attacking ground force.
 Translations
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reduction [rɪˈdʌkʃən] n → reducción f [of price] → rebaja (= discount); descuento
reduction [rɪˈdʌkʃən] reduce n → réduction f [of price]; baisse f (= discount); rabais m; réduction;
reduction [rɪˈdʌkʃən] reduce n (in price etc) → Ermäßigung, Reduzierung f;
reduction [rɪˈdʌkʃən] n → riduzione f [of price] → ribasso (= discount); sconto
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Reductions
