|
Shorten - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
|
Shorten : (verb)
1: make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in
length or duration; "He shortened his trip due to
illness" [ant: lengthen]
2: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The
manuscript must be shortened" [syn: abridge, foreshorten,
abbreviate, cut, contract, reduce] [ant: elaborate]
3: make short or shorter; "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the
rope by a few inches"
4: become short or shorter; "In winter, the days shorten" [ant:
lengthen]
5: edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate;
"bowdlerize a novel" [syn: bowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate,
castrate]
Based on WordNet 2.0
|
|
Shorten : \Short"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shortened ?; p. pr. &
vb. n. Shortening.] [See Short, a.]
1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as,
to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of
calamity.
2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to
lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to
shorten work, an allowance of food, etc.
Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am
shortened by my chain. --Dryden.
3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of.
Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.
--Dryden.
4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard,
pot liquor, or the like.
To shorten a rope (Naut.), to take in the slack of it.
To shorten sail (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
|
|
Shorten : \Short"en\, v. i.
To become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern
latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by
cold.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
|
|
Shorten :
A form of lossless audio
compression.
[Details?]
(2001-12-17)
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|
|
|
|
|
