HyperDic: shorten

English > 5 senses of the word shorten:
VERBchangeshortenmake shorter / shorter than originally / originally intended
changeshorten, abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, cut, contract, reducereduce in scope while retaining essential elements
changeshortenmake short or shorter
changeshortenbecome short or shorter
changeshorten, bowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrateedit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
shorten > pronunciation
Soundsshao'rtahn
RhymesAachen ... Zukerman: 2572 rhymes with ahn...
English > shorten: 5 senses > verb 1, change
Meaningmake shorter / shorter than originally / originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Example"He shortened his trip due to illness"
Cause toshortenBecome short or shorter
Narrowerclip, curtail, cut shortterminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end / end or its full extent
foreshortenshorten lines in a drawing so as to create an illusion of depth
syncopateomit a sound or letter in a word
truncate, cut shortmake shorter / shorter as if by cutting off
Broaderreduce, cut down, cut back, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring downcut down on
Oppositelengthenmake longer
Spanishabreviar, acortar, encoger
Catalanabreujar, encongir, escurçar-se, escurçar
Nounsshortenerany agent that shortens
English > shorten: 5 senses > verb 2, change
MeaningReduce in scope while retaining essential elements.
PatternSomebody ----s something; Something ----s something
Example"The manuscript must be shortened"
Synonymsabridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, cut, contract, reduce
Narrowerbowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate, shortenedit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
digest, condense, concentratemake more concise
Broaderdecrease, lessen, minifymake smaller
Oppositeelaborate, lucubrate, expatiate, exposit, enlarge, flesh out, expand, expound, dilateadd details, as to an account or idea
Similar toedit, cut, edit outcut and assemble the components of
Spanishabreviar, acortar, compendiar, condensar, contraer, encoger, reducir, resumir, simplificar
Catalanabreujar, contraure, contreure, encongir, escurçar
Nounsshortenerany agent that shortens
English > shorten: 5 senses > verb 3, change
Meaningmake short or shorter.
PatternSomebody ----s something
ModelThey shorten their hair
Examples
  • "shorten the skirt"
  • "shorten the rope by a few inches"
Narrowercutshorten as if by severing the edges or ends of
Broaderchange, alter, modifyCause to change
Spanishabreviar, acortar
Nounsshortenerany agent that shortens
shorteningact of decreasing in length
English > shorten: 5 senses > verb 4, change
MeaningBecome short or shorter.
PatternSomething ----s
Example"In winter, the days shorten"
Caused byshortenmake shorter / shorter than originally / originally intended
Broaderdecrease, diminish, lessen, falldecrease in size, extent, or range
OppositelengthenBecome long / long or longer
Spanishabreviar, acortarse, acortar
Catalanabreujar, escurçar-se
English > shorten: 5 senses > verb 5, change
Meaningedit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate.
PatternSomebody ----s something
ModelThey won't shorten the story
Synonymsbowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate
Broaderabridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduceReduce in scope while retaining essential elements
Spanishexpurgar
Catalanexpurgar

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