This use means to make something smaller or less. You can reduce the size, number, or amount of things.
We reduce the price to sell it fast.
Please reduce the noise in the room.
This meaning is about making something more simple or easy to understand. For example, to reduce a problem means to make it easier.
Math problems reduce to simple equations.
We reduce the complex text to easy words.
In cooking, reduce means to make a liquid smaller in amount by cooking it so that water disappears and taste grows stronger.
She reduces the sauce by boiling it slowly.
Reduce the soup until it is very thick.
Here, reduce means to make someone feel weaker, less important, or lower in status or condition.
The company reduced him to a lower position.
She felt reduced after losing her job.
In chemistry, reduce means to add electrons to an atom or molecule, lowering its electrical charge during a chemical process.
Copper ions reduce to copper metal here.
The reaction reduces the chemical compound carefully.
This means to make language or text shorter or more simple, often to save time or space.
Please reduce your speech to five minutes.
We reduce the report for the meeting.
In technology, to reduce means to make a file or data smaller so it uses less space or is easier to send.
Reduce the image size before sending.
We reduce the file to save space.