SHORTEN

Pronunciation (US):

• SHORTEN (verb)
  The verb SHORTEN has 5 senses:

1. make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration
2. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
3. make short or shorter
4. become short or shorter
5. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

  Familiarity information: SHORTEN used as a verb is common.

• 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