reduce

/rɪˈduːs/
verb
  1. To make something smaller or less in amount, size, degree, or price.
    • The new software will help reduce the time it takes to process orders.
    • You can reduce your risk of heart disease by eating a healthy diet.
    • The store decided to reduce the price of all winter coats by 30 percent.
  2. To bring someone or something to a lower or worse state or condition.
    • The argument reduced her to tears.
    • Years of stress reduced him to a nervous wreck.
    • The fire reduced the beautiful house to ashes.
  3. To boil a liquid so that it becomes thicker and more concentrated.
    • You need to reduce the wine for about ten minutes.
    • The recipe says to reduce the chicken broth by half.
    • Reduce the sauce over low heat until it thickens.
  4. To simplify or break down something into smaller parts or a simpler form.
    • The report reduces complex data into easy-to-understand charts.
    • We can reduce the problem to a few key questions.
    • The teacher showed us how to reduce the fraction 4/8 to 1/2.