reduce
verb [ I or T ] uk/rɪˈdʒuːs/ us/rɪˈduːs/
B1 减少；减小；降低；缩小
to become or to make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc.
Do nuclear weapons really reduce the risk of war? 核武器真的可以减小战争爆发的危险吗？
The plane reduced speed as it approached the airport. 当飞临机场时，飞机减慢了速度。
My weight reduces when I stop eating sugar. 我停止吃糖时体重就会下降。
We bought a TV that was reduced from £500 to £350 in the sales. 我们在大减价时，买了一台从500英镑减至350英镑的电视。
I reduced the problem to a few simple questions. 我把这个难题简化为几个简单的小问题。
（通过加热）使（液体）变稠;（液体因加热而）变稠
to heat a liquid until it becomes thicker and less in quantity; to become thicker and less in quantity in this way
Reduce the sauce by boiling for five minutes. 煮沸5分钟让调味汁变稠。
Simmer until the liquid has reduced by about one third. 加微热直到液体减少三分之一。
- More examples
- The government has pledged to reduce the amount of chemicals used in food production.
- Wearing the correct type of clothing will reduce the risk from radiation.
- When one airline reduces its prices, the rest soon follow suit.
- Mindful of the poor road conditions, she reduced her speed to 30 mph.
- We are firmly committed to reducing unemployment.
Idiom
reduce, reuse, recycleidiom 减用，重用，再利用（这个说法是鼓励人们通过少用物品或再次使用物品来减少废物，保护环境）
said to encourage people to waste less, by using less and using things again, in order to protect the environment
Phrasal verbs
reduce someone to somethingC2 使（某人）（情绪）低落;使（某人）沦落，使（某人）陷入困境
to make someone unhappy or cause someone to be in a bad state or situation
His comments reduced her to tears (= made her cry). 他的话把她气哭了。
The sergeant was reduced to the ranks (= made an ordinary soldier) for his cowardice. 中士因为贪生怕死被降为士兵。
C2 使（某人）被逼无奈做…；使（某人）不得不做…
If you are reduced to doing something, you are forced to do it because you have no other choice.
He was out of cigarettes and was reduced to smoking the butts left in the ashtrays. 我烟抽光了，无奈只好抽烟灰缸中的烟头。
reduce something to somethingC2 将（尤指大型建筑物）彻底摧毁；将…夷为平地
to cause something, especially a large structure, to be destroyed and broken into pieces
Allied bombing reduced the city to ruins/rubble. 联军的轰炸使这座城市沦为一片废墟／瓦砾。