reduce
gb/ɹɪdˈus/ us/ɹɪdˈus/
A2
English
~ 600
csökkent, lejjebb vesz, rosszabb állapotba juttat, beforral
VERB
A2
1
csökkent
B1
Usage pattern:
to reduce [something]
The company plans to reduce its workforce by 10%.
A vállalat azt tervezi, hogy 10%-kal csökkenti a dolgozói létszámát.
We need to reduce the amount of sugar in our diet.
Csökkentenünk kell az étrendünkben lévő cukor mennyiségét.
The government is working to reduce air pollution.
She reduced her spending after losing her job.
Learner examples
I want to reduce my weight.
Szeretnék fogyni.
They will reduce the price.
Csökkenteni fogják az árat.
We must reduce waste at home.
He reduced the speed of the car.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'reduce' with 'remove'. 'Reduce' means to make smaller, not to eliminate completely.
Meaning
Make something smaller or less
Collocations
reduce costs
|reduce waste
|reduce risk
|reduce speed
|reduce emissions
Synonyms
decrease (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable in neutral contexts.)
Antonyms
increase (Opposite in meaning; to make something greater in amount or size.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something less in size, number, or amount.
To make something smaller in size, amount, degree, or importance.
VERB
B1
2
csökkent
B1
lejjebb vesz
B1
Usage pattern:
to reduce [level/intensity]
Reduce the heat and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes.
Vedd lejjebb a lángot, és hagyd a levest 10 percig gyöngyözve főni.
Meditation can help reduce stress.
A meditáció segíthet csökkenteni a stresszt.
They installed panels to reduce noise from the street.
Learner examples
Please reduce the heat on the stove.
Kérlek, vedd lejjebb a lángot a tűzhelyen.
Exercise can reduce stress.
A testmozgás csökkentheti a stresszt.
We need to reduce noise in the library.
Meaning
Lower level or intensity
Collocations
reduce heat
|reduce stress
|reduce noise
Synonyms
diminish (Slightly more formal; can imply gradual decrease.)
Antonyms
increase (To raise the level or intensity of something.)
Themes
daily life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something less strong or less loud.
To bring down the level, intensity, or strength of something.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to reduce [someone/something] to [state]
The bombing reduced the city to rubble.
A bombázás romhalmazzá változtatta a várost.
His rude comments reduced her to tears.
A goromba megjegyzései könnyekre fakasztották.
The illness reduced him to a shadow of his former self.
Learner examples
The fire reduced the house to ashes.
A tűz hamuvá égette a házat.
Her words reduced him to tears.
A szavai könnyekre fakasztották.
The war reduced the town to ruins.
Meaning
Bring to weaker state
Collocations
reduce someone to tears
|reduce a city to ruins
Synonyms
degrade (Often implies moral or social lowering as well.)
Antonyms
elevate (To raise someone or something to a better state.)
Themes
emotions
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone or something weaker or less able than before.
To cause someone or something to be in a worse, weaker, or less important state or condition.
VERB
B1
TECHNICAL
4
beforral
B2
Usage pattern:
to reduce [liquid/sauce]
Reduce the sauce over low heat until it thickens.
Kis lángon forrald be a szószt, amíg besűrűsödik.
The chef reduced the stock for an hour before serving.
A séf tálalás előtt egy órán át beforralta az alaplevet.
You can reduce the wine to intensify its flavor.
Learner examples
Reduce the soup until it is thick.
Forrald be a levest, amíg sűrű nem lesz.
The chef will reduce the sauce.
A séf be fogja forralni a szószt.
Boil the juice to reduce it.
Meaning
Cook liquid until thicker
Collocations
reduce a sauce
|reduce stock
Synonyms
concentrate (General term for making a liquid stronger; not specific to cooking.)
Antonyms
dilute (To make a liquid weaker by adding water or another liquid.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
Definition
In cooking, to heat a liquid until some water goes away and it becomes thicker.
In cooking, to boil a liquid so that it becomes thicker and more concentrated by evaporation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reduce
IPA
GB/ɹɪdˈus/
US/ɹɪdˈus/
Syllables & stress
re - duce (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (duce)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: reduce
- 3rd Person Singular: reduces
- Present Participle: reducing
- Past: reduced
Word family
Expressions
reduce by half
1/ɹɪdˈus bˈaɪ hˈæf/
fixed phrase
Make something half as much
To make something 50% smaller in amount or size.
Examples
- Reduce the recipe by half if you are cooking for two.
- They managed to reduce their energy use by half.
reduce speed
1/ɹɪdˈus spˈid/
fixed phrase
Slow down a vehicle's speed
To make a car, bike, or other vehicle go slower.
Examples
- Drivers should reduce speed in school zones.
- Reduce speed when approaching sharp curves.
reduce to rubble
1/ɹɪdˈus tə ɹˈʌbəl/
idiom
Destroy leaving only rubble
To destroy a building so that only broken pieces remain.
Examples
- The earthquake reduced the entire neighborhood to rubble.
- Bombing raids reduced the factory to rubble.
reduce to tears
1/ɹɪdˈus tə tˈɪɹz/
idiom
Make someone start crying
To make someone cry because of your words or actions.
Examples
- The teacher's harsh criticism reduced the student to tears.
- His cruel joke reduced her to tears.