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Webster 1913 Edition

Reduction

Re-duc′tion

(rē̍-dŭk′shŭn)

Noun.

[F.

réduction

, L.

reductio

. See

Reduce

The act of reducing, or state of being reduced; conversion to a given state or condition; diminution; conquest;

as, the

reduction

of a body to powder; the

reduction

of things to order; the

reduction

of the expenses of government; the

reduction

of a rebellious province.

(Arith. & Alg.)

The act or process of reducing. See

Reduce

Verb.

, 6. and

To reduce an equation

To reduce an expression

, under

Reduce

Verb.

(Astron.)

(a)

The correction of observations for known errors of instruments, etc.

(b)

The preparation of the facts and measurements of observations in order to deduce a general result.

The process of making a copy of something, as a figure, design, or draught, on a smaller scale, preserving the proper proportions.

Fairholt.

(Logic)

The bringing of a syllogism in one of the so-called imperfect modes into a mode in the first figure.

(Chem. & Metal.)

The act, process, or result of reducing{7};

as, the

reduction

of iron from its ores; the

reduction

of an aldehyde into an alcohol

(Med.)

The operation of restoring a dislocated or fractured part to its former place.

Reduction ascending

(Arith.)

the operation of changing numbers of a lower into others of a higher denomination, as cents to dollars.

–

Reduction descending

(Arith.)

the operation of changing numbers of a higher into others of a lower denomination, as dollars to cents.

Syn. – Diminution; decrease; abatement; curtailment; subjugation; conquest; subjection.

Webster 1828 Edition

Reduction

REDUC'TION

Noun.

[L. reductio.]

The act of reducing, or state of being reduced; as the reduction of a body to powder; the reduction of things to order.

Diminution; as the reduction of the expenses of government; the reduction of the national debt.

Conquest; subjugation; as the reduction of a province to the power of a foreign nation.

In arithmetic, the bringing of numbers of different denominations into one denomination; as the reduction of pounds, ounces, pennyweights and grains to grains, or the reduction of grains to pounds; the reduction of days and hours to minutes, or of minutes to hours and days. The change of numbers of a higher denomination into a lower, as of pounds into pence or farthings, is called reduction descending; the change of numbers of a lower denomination into a higher, as of cents into dimes, dollars or eagles, is called reduction ascending. Hence the rule for bringing sums of different denominations into one denomination, is called reduction.

In algebra, reduction of equations is the clearing of them of all superfluous quantities, bringing them to their lowest terms and separating the known from the unknown, till the unknown quantity alone is found on one side, and the known ones of the other.

Reduction of a figure, men, &c. is the making of a copy of it on a smaller or larger scale, preserving the form and proportions.

In surgery, the operation of restoring a dislocated or fractured bone to its former place.

In metallurgy, the operation of bringing metallic substances which have been changed, or divested of their metallic form, into their natural and original state of metals. This is called also revivification.

Definition 2024

reduction

See also: réduction

English

Noun

reduction ‎(countable and uncountable, plural reductions)

The act, process, or result of reducing.
The amount or rate by which something is reduced, e.g. in price.
A 5% reduction in robberies
(chemistry) A reaction in which electrons are gained and valence is reduced; often by the removal of oxygen or the addition of hydrogen.
(cooking) The process of rapidly boiling a sauce to concentrate it.
(mathematics) The rewriting of an expression into a simpler form.
(computability theory) a transformation of one problem into another problem, such as mapping reduction or polynomial reduction.
(music) An arrangement for a far smaller number of parties, e.g. a keyboard solo based on a full opera.
(philosophy, phenomenology) A philosophical procedure intended to reveal the objects of consciousness as pure phenomena. (See phenomenological reduction.)
(medicine) A medical procedure to restore a fracture or dislocation to the correct alignment.