Dictionary entry details
• SHORTEN (verb)
Meaning:
Make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
He shortened his trip due to illness
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)
Meaning:
Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
abridge; foreshorten; abbreviate; shorten; contract; reduce; cut
Context example:
The manuscript must be shortened
Hypernyms (to "shorten" is one way to...):
decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)
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
Meaning:
Make short or shorter
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context examples:
shorten the skirt / shorten the rope by a few inches
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
Meaning:
Become short or shorter
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
In winter, the days shorten
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)
Meaning:
Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
bowdlerise; bowdlerize; expurgate; castrate; shorten
Context example:
bowdlerize a novel
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
