shorten

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈʃɔːtən/
• (US) IPA: /ˈʃɔɹtən/

Verb

shorten (third-person singular simple present shortens, present participle shortening, simple past and past participle shortened)

1. (transitive) To make shorter; to abbreviate.
2. (intransitive) To become shorter.
3. (transitive) To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).
4. (transitive) To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
5. (transitive) To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.
   • to shorten an allowance of food
6. (baking, of pastries, transitive) To make crumbly.
7. (nautical, transitive) To take in the slack of (a rope).
8. (nautical, transitive) To reduce (sail) by taking it in.

Anagrams

• Herston, Hornets, Rhotens, Thorens, Thorsen, enhorts, hornets, snoreth, thrones