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v. short·ened, short·en·ing, short·ens v.tr. 1. To make short or shorter. 2. To reduce in force, efficacy, or intensity. 3. To add shortening to (dough) so as to make flaky. 4. Nautical To take in (a sail, sails, or part of a sail) so that less canvas is exposed to the wind, thereby reducing speed: shortened sail in advance of the storm. v.intr. To become short or shorter. shorten·er n. Synonyms: shorten, abbreviate, abridge, curtail, truncate These verbs mean to reduce something in length, duration, or extent: shortened his life by smoking; abbreviated the speech for the television news show; abridged the book as an essay; curtailed their visit by a week; truncated the conversation by saying goodbye. Antonym: lengthen |
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