Definition

Noun 1. The process of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size. This is the most general meaning, applicable to various contexts like quantity, intensity, or physical dimensions. 2. (Chemistry) A process in which a chemical species gains electrons. This process is always accompanied by the oxidation of another substance (the reducing agent).

Examples of Usage

• General Meaning:
  • The company announced a reducing of staff by 10%.
  • The new policy focuses on the reducing of plastic waste.
  • She is pleased with the reducing of inflammation in her knee.
• Chemistry Meaning:
  • In this reaction, the gain of hydrogen by the molecule is a classic example of reducing.
  • The reducing of the metal ion was confirmed by the change in solution color.

Advanced Usage

• "reducing agent": A substance that causes reduction by donating electrons to another substance and is itself oxidized.
  • In the lab, sodium borohydride is a common reducing agent.

Variants and Related Words

• Reduce (verb): To make something smaller or less.
  • We need to reduce our expenses.
• Reduction (noun): The act or result of reducing.
  • There was a significant reduction in noise.
• Reductive (adjective): Tending to present a subject or problem in a simplified form, often misleadingly so.
  • His reductive analysis ignored the cultural complexities.

Synonyms

• Decrease: To become or make less.
• Diminution: A reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something.
• Lessening: The action of making or becoming less.
• Cutback: An instance of reducing something, especially expenditure.

Related Phrases

• Weight reducing: The process of losing body weight.
  • A doctor supervised her weight reducing program.
• Cost reducing: Aimed at lowering expenses.
  • The manager implemented several cost-reducing measures.

Noun

1. loss of excess weight (as by dieting); becoming slimmer
   • a doctor supervised her reducing
2. 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 agent