shortener

short·en

 (shôr′tn)

v. short·ened, short·en·ing, short·ens

v.tr.

1. To make short or shorter.

2. To reduce in force, efficacy, or intensity.

3. To add shortening to (dough) so as to make flaky.

4. Nautical To take in (a sail, sails, or part of a sail) so that less canvas is exposed to the wind, thereby reducing speed: shortened sail in advance of the storm.

v.intr.

To become short or shorter.

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short′en·er n.

Synonyms: shorten, abbreviate, abridge, curtail, truncate
These verbs mean to reduce something in length, duration, or extent: shortened his life by smoking; abbreviated the speech for the television news show; abridged the book as an essay; curtailed their visit by a week; truncated the conversation by saying goodbye.

Antonym: lengthen

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

shortener - any agent that shortens; "alcohol is a great shortener of life" agent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.