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shortening

shortening

4 3.5
Making something shorter in length, time or size
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɔrtənɪŋ/
translation icon : acortamiento
  • The buffering effect of exercise on telomere shortening was confirmed again just last year.
  • telomere shortening
  • muscle shortening
  • degree of shortening

So we have several phase three treatment shortening studies coming along.

Examples

  • Physical findings were a one-inch shortening of the left leg.

  • Before long, you would notice the shortening of the days.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • In the early 1990s, several observations solidified the link between telomere shortening and aging.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The most notable abnormalities include a hypoplasia of the tarsal bones, with reduced size and shortening of the talus.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The shortening of the days and the expiration of the crops when approaching the winter solstice symbolized the process of death to the ancients.

  • The shortening of the school day allows students to spend more time with their families.

  • The seamstress suggested a shortening of the dress to make it more suitable for summer wear.

  • After tracking the shortening of the deadlines, the team worked harder to complete the project on time.

Synonyms

reduction
vsshortening
451 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, degree, or price

is the specific act of reducing length, size, or duration
contraction
vsshortening
34 4.4

A process of becoming smaller in size or amount

is the active process of reducing length, size, or duration
trimming
vsshortening
8 2.3

Cutting things like a hedge or cloth to make them neater

is a general reduction not tied to cutting or shaping
shrinking
vsshortening
7 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, or value

is a deliberate act to reduce length, size, or duration
shrinkage
vsshortening
5 5.1

A decrease in size, amount, or value

is the deliberate act of reducing length, size, or duration
diminution
vsshortening
5 7.9

A decrease in size, amount, or importance

is the act of active reduction in length, size, or duration
lessening
vsshortening
4 3.8

A decrease in amount, size, or strength

is the action of reducing length, size, or duration rather than general decrease
curtailment
vsshortening
3 7.5

A cut that reduces something or stops it earlier than planned

is a general reduction not focused on ending something earlier
cutdown
vsshortening
2 4.0

A drop in the number or amount of something

is an act of reducing length, size, or duration
truncation
vsshortening
1 7.3

Making something shorter by cutting off a part

is a general act of reducing, not limited to cutting away parts
foreshortening
vsshortening
7.9

Making something shorter in length or time

is the general act of reducing length, size, or duration
tapering
vsshortening
6.5

A slow reduction in size or amount done in stages

is a general reduction not necessarily gradual
minification
vsshortening
7.4

Making something smaller in size so it fits into a small space

is a broader act of reducing length, size, or duration

Antonyms

2 3.7

Making something longer in time or distance

How Short

elimination
77 3.5
abridgment
  • US
2 5.5
cutback
52 3.7
shortening
4 3.5
reduction
451 3.2
to trim
95 2.6

Surface Forms

shortening singular
shortenings plural

Morphology

shortening = shorten (transparent) = shorten + ing

The word 'shortening' is transparently derived from 'shorten' with the addition of the suffix '-ing' indicating the act or process.

Etymology

Shortening comes from the word short (meaning 'not long') plus the ending -en which means 'to make'. So shortening simply means the act of 'making something shorter', like shortening a coat or a talk.