reduction English · revision 5562

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1429|origins=la redūcere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /rɪˈdʌk.ʃən/, /rəˈdʌk.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English reduccioun, [[bor|frm|réduction]] and directly from [[la|reductiō|t=a leading back, restoration]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) a noun of action from the past participle of [[m|la|redūcere|t=to bring back, restore]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) See [[reduce]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The conquest or subjugation of a place or people: 1429 in the HTOED, the early 15th century in Etymonline,^(HTOED)^(Etymonline) which also has “restoring to a former state”, a sense now obsolete.^(Etymonline) NODE says the first sense was the action of bringing back.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its sense development broadly followed that of [[reduce]].^(NODE 1998) In mathematics, expressing a quantity in another unit is from 1543, and simplifying a fraction from 1594.^(HTOED) In surgery, putting a dislocated bone back in place is from 1612.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The chemical sense, conversion into a simpler form, is from the 1660s,^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) and the reverse of oxidation from 1796.^(HTOED) A lessening in amount is from the 1670s in Etymonline and 1695 in the HTOED.^(Etymonline)^(HTOED) A copy made on a smaller scale is from 1728,^(HTOED) and a discount on a price from 1820.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1429 – conquest.^(HTOED)

+ * 1543 – in mathematics.^(HTOED)

+ * 1612 – in surgery.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1660s – in chemistry.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1670s – a lessening.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1820 – a discount.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of making something smaller in size, amount or degree.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The amount by which something is made smaller: ''a price reduction''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A smaller copy of a picture or document.^(Collins 2023)^(HTOED)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' A reaction in which a substance gains [[electron|alt=electrons]] or loses oxygen; the opposite of [[oxidation]].^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+ # ''(medicine)'' The putting back of a broken or dislocated bone into place.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reductional]]

+ * [[reductionism]]

+ * [[oxidation-reduction]]

+ * [[photoreduction]]

+ * [[nonreduction]]

+ * [[overreduction]]

+ * [[electroreduction]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reducible]]

+ * [[reduce]]

+ * [[reductive]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}