Reductions
rɪˈdʌkʃənz
Definitions
2 meaningsA decrease in amount, size, or extent.
rɪˈdʌkʃən
The action or fact of making a specified thing smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
The government announced tax reductions to stimulate the economy.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to make a cake, and the recipe says to use fewer eggs. That's a reduction! It means to make something smaller or less.
👶 For kids: Making something smaller. Like if you have too much cake, you can make a reduction and eat less!
More Examples
The company implemented staff reductions to cut costs.
The chef used a reduction of balsamic vinegar to intensify the flavor.
How It's Used
"The company announced significant reductions in staff."
"The reduction of a fraction to its lowest terms."
"Tax reductions were implemented to stimulate the economy."
The amount by which something is diminished or lessened.
rɪˈdʌkʃən
The amount by which something is reduced.
The company announced a reduction in the price of their products.
💡 Simply: Imagine the price of your favorite toy is usually $10, but it's on sale for $8. The reduction is $2 – the amount the price went down!
👶 For kids: How much something got smaller. Like if your ice cream cone has a 2-scoop reduction, you only get one scoop now.
More Examples
There was a significant reduction in crime rates last year.
The store is offering a substantial reduction on selected items.
How It's Used
"The store offered a 20% reduction on all winter coats."
"A reduction in the amount of oxygen available."
Synonyms
From Latin *reductio* ('a leading back'), from *reducere* ('to lead back, bring back, diminish'), from *re-* ('back') + *ducere* ('to lead').
Historically, the term has been used in various contexts from mathematics to philosophy. The concept of reduction also played an important role in scientific simplification and experimentation.
Memory tip
Think of REDUCE + ACTION = REDUCTION