Library / English Dictionary

SHORTEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

Example:

bowdlerize a novel

Synonyms:

bowdlerise; bowdlerize; castrate; expurgate; shorten

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shorten" is one way to...):

abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten (reduce in scope while retaining essential elements)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They won't shorten the story

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

Example:

The manuscript must be shortened

Synonyms:

abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shorten" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Verb group:

cut; edit; edit out (cut and assemble the components of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shorten"):

bowdlerise; bowdlerize; castrate; expurgate; shorten (edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate)

concentrate; condense; digest (make more concise)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

shortener (any agent that shortens)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Become short or shorter

Example:

In winter, the days shorten

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shorten" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

lengthen (become long or longer)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration

Example:

He shortened his trip due to illness

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shorten" is one way to...):

bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down (cut down on; make a reduction in)

Cause:

shorten (become short or shorter)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shorten"):

foreshorten (shorten lines in a drawing so as to create an illusion of depth)

clip; curtail; cut short (terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end or its full extent)

syncopate (omit a sound or letter in a word)

cut short; truncate (make shorter as if by cutting off)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

lengthen (make longer)

Derivation:

shortener (any agent that shortens)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make short or shorter

Example:

shorten the rope by a few inches

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "shorten" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shorten"):

cut (shorten as if by severing the edges or ends of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They shorten their hair

Derivation:

shortener (any agent that shortens)

shortening (act of decreasing in length)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A formula which takes into account the physiologic shortening of the JT interval which occurs as the heart rate increases, permitting comparison of the JT interval across a range of rates.

(JTcB - Bazett's Correction Formula, NCI Thesaurus)

In the second and third steps, further oxidation makes more NADPH and releases carbon dioxide, shortening the sugar from six carbons to five (D-ribulose 5-phosphate).

(Oxidative Reactions of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Therefore, this agent may prevent the incidence and shorten the duration of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

(Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar LA-EP2006, NCI Thesaurus)

It is not meant to shorten life or cause death.

(Palliative sedation, NCI Dictionary)

A congenital malformation in which the upper portion of a limb is either shortened or absent.

(Phocomelia, NCI Thesaurus)

A shortening and thinning of cervix due to the action of uterine contractions during active labor to allow for fetal descent.

(Cervical Effacement, NCI Thesaurus)

If the initial substrate was a long chain fatty acid, then the resulting dicarboxylic acid can enter the beta-oxidation pathway to be shortened at both ends of the molecule at the same time.

(Omega-Oxidation of Fatty Acids Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

While bigger galaxies have bigger black holes and produce stronger gravitational waves when they combine, these mergers also happen fast, shortening the time period for detection.

(Listening for Gravitational Waves Using Pulsars, NASA)

Once Mthl10 and GBP connect, they initiate the production of proinflammatory proteins, which, in turn, shortens the fly’s life.

(Defending against environmental stressors may shorten lifespan, National Institutes of Health)

In the fall of the year, when the days were shortening and the bite of the frost was coming into the air, White Fang got his chance for liberty.

(White Fang, by Jack London)