Reducement - Reef

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4. To bring to a certain state or condition by grinding, pounding, kneading, rubbing, etc.; as, to reduce a substance to powder, or to a pasty mass; to reduce fruit, wood, or paper rags, to pulp.
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It were but right
And equal to reduce me to my dust. Milton.
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5. To bring into a certain order, arrangement, classification, etc.; to bring under rules or within certain limits of descriptions and terms adapted to use in computation; as, to reduce animals or vegetables to a class or classes; to reduce a series of observations in astronomy; to reduce language to rules.
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6. (Arith.) (a) To change, as numbers, from one denomination into another without altering their value, or from one denomination into others of the same value; as, to reduce pounds, shillings, and pence to pence, or to reduce pence to pounds; to reduce days and hours to minutes, or minutes to days and hours. (b) To change the form of a quantity or expression without altering its value; as, to reduce fractions to their lowest terms, to a common denominator, etc.
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7. (Chem.) To add an electron to an atom or ion. Specifically: To remove oxygen from; to deoxidize. (Metallurgy) To bring to the metallic state by separating from combined oxygen and impurities; as, metals are reduced from their ores. (Chem.) To combine with, or to subject to the action of, hydrogen or any other reducing agent; as, ferric iron is reduced to ferrous iron; aldehydes can be reduced to alcohols by lithium hydride; -- opposed to oxidize.
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8. (Med.) To restore to its proper place or condition, as a displaced organ or part; as, to reduce a dislocation, a fracture, or a hernia.
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Coloq. Reduced iron (Chem.), metallic iron obtained through deoxidation of an oxide of iron by exposure to a current of hydrogen or other reducing agent. When hydrogen is used the product is called also iron by hydrogen. -- Coloq. To reduce an equation (Alg.), to bring the unknown quantity by itself on one side, and all the known quantities on the other side, without destroying the equation. -- Coloq. To reduce an expression (Alg.), to obtain an equivalent expression of simpler form. -- Coloq. To reduce a square (Mil.), to reform the line or column from the square.
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Syn. -- To diminish; lessen; decrease; abate; shorten; curtail; impair; lower; subject; subdue; subjugate; conquer.
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Reducement (r?d?sment), n. Reduction. Milton.
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Reducent (r?d?sent), a. [L. reducens, p. pr. of reducere.] Tending to reduce. -- n. A reducent agent.
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Reducer (-s?r), n. 1. One who, or that which, reduces.
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2. (Mach.) (a) A contrivance for reducing the dimensions of one part so as to fit it to another, as a reducing coupling, or a device for holding a drilling a chuck. (b) A reducing motion. (c) A reducing valve. (d) A hydraulic device for reducing pressure and hence increasing movement, used to transmit the load from the hydraulic support of the lower shackle to the lever weighing apparatus in some kinds of heavy testing machines.
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3. (Photog.) A reducing agent, either a developer or an agent for reducing density.
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4. (Chem.) a reducing agent.
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Reducible (-s?b'll), a. Capable of being reduced.
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Reducibleness, n. Quality of being reducible.
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Reducing (r?d?s?ng), a & n. from .
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Coloq. Reducing furnace (Metal.), a furnace for reducing ores. -- Coloq. Reducing pipe fitting , a pipe fitting, as a coupling, an elbow, a tee, etc., for connecting a large pipe with a smaller one. -- Coloq. Reducing valve , a device for automatically maintaining a diminished pressure of steam, air, gas, etc., in a pipe, or other receiver, which is fed from a boiler or pipe in which the pressure is higher than is desired in the receiver.
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Reducing agent (?), n. (Chem.) a substance that causes reduction of another substance in a chemical reaction, as by donating electrons or adding hydrogen atoms; as, lithium hydride is a powerful reducing agent.
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Reduct (r�dŭkt), v. t. [L. reductus, p. p. of reducere. See .] To reduce. [Obs.] W. Warde.
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Reductibility (r?d?kt?b?l?t?), n. The quality of being reducible; reducibleness.
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Reduction (r�dŭkshŭn), n. [F. réduction, L. reductio. See .] 1. The act of reducing, or state of being reduced; conversion to a given state or condition; diminution; conquest; as, the reduction of a body to powder; the reduction of things to order; the reduction of the expenses of government; the reduction of a rebellious province.
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2. (Arith. & Alg.) The act or process of reducing. See , v. t., 6. and To reduce an equation, To reduce an expression, under , v. t.
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3. (Astron.) (a) The correction of observations for known errors of instruments, etc. (b) The preparation of the facts and measurements of observations in order to deduce a general result.
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4. The process of making a copy of something, as a figure, design, or draught, on a smaller scale, preserving the proper proportions. Fairholt.
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5. (Logic) The bringing of a syllogism in one of the so-called imperfect modes into a mode in the first figure.
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6. (Chem. & Metal.) The act, process, or result of reducing{7}; as, the reduction of iron from its ores; the reduction of an aldehyde into an alcohol.
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7. (Med.) The operation of restoring a dislocated or fractured part to its former place.
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Coloq. Reduction ascending (Arith.), the operation of changing numbers of a lower into others of a higher denomination, as cents to dollars. -- Coloq. Reduction descending (Arith.), the operation of changing numbers of a higher into others of a lower denomination, as dollars to cents.
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Syn. -- Diminution; decrease; abatement; curtailment; subjugation; conquest; subjection.
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Reductive (-t?v), a. [Cf. F. réductif.] Tending to reduce; having the power or effect of reducing. -- n. A reductive agent. Sir M. Hale.
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Reductively, adv. By reduction; by consequence.
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Réduit (r?dw?), n. [F. See , n. ] (Fort.) A central or retired work within any other work.
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{ Redundance (r?d?ndans), Redundancy (-dans?), } n. [L. redundantia: cf. F. redondance.]
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1. The quality or state of being redundant; superfluity; superabundance; excess.
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2. That which is redundant or in excess; anything superfluous or superabundant.
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Labor . . . throws off redundacies. Addison.
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3. (Law) Surplusage inserted in a pleading which may be rejected by the court without impairing the validity of what remains.
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Redundant (-dant), a. [L. redundans, -antis, p. pr. of redundare: cf. F. redondant. See .] 1. Exceeding what is natural or necessary; superabundant; exuberant; as, a redundant quantity of bile or food.
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Notwithstanding the redundant oil in fishes, they do not increase fat so much as flesh. Arbuthnot.
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2. Using more worrds or images than are necessary or useful; pleonastic.
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Where an suthor is redundant, mark those paragraphs to be retrenched. I. Watts.
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Syn. -- Superfluous; superabundant; excessive; exuberant; overflowing; plentiful; copious.
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Redundantly (r?d?ndantl?), adv. In a refundant manner.
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Reduplicate (r?d?pl?k?t), a. [Pref. re- + duplicate: cf. L. reduplicatus. Cf. .] 1. Double; doubled; reduplicative; repeated.
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2. (Bot.) Valvate with the margins curved outwardly; -- said of the �stivation of certain flowers.
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Reduplicate (-k?t), v. t. [Cf. LL. reduplicare.]
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1. To redouble; to multiply; to repeat.
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2. (Gram.) To repeat the first letter or letters of (a word). See , 3.
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Reduplication (-k?sh?n), n. [Cf. F. réduplication, L. reduplicatio repetition.] 1. The act of doubling, or the state of being doubled.
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2. (Pros.) A figure in which the first word of a verse is the same as the last word of the preceding verse.
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3. (Philol.) The doubling of a stem or syllable (more or less modified), with the effect of changing the time expressed, intensifying the meaning, or making the word more imitative; also, the syllable thus added; as, L. tetuli; poposci.
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Reduplicative (-k?t?v), a. [Cf. F. réduplicatif.] Double; formed by reduplication; reduplicate. I. Watts.
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Reduvid (r?d?v?d), n. [L. reduvia a hangnail.] (Zoöl.) Any hemipterous insect of the genus Redivius, or family Reduvidæ. They live by sucking the blood of other insects, and some species also attack man.
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Redweed (rĕdwēd), n. (Bot.) The red poppy (Papaver Rhœas). Dr. Prior.
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Redwing (-w?ng), n. (Zoöl.) A European thrush (Turdus iliacus). Its under wing coverts are orange red. Called also redwinged thrush. (b) A North American passerine bird (Agelarius phœniceus) of the family Icteridæ. The male is black, with a conspicuous patch of bright red, bordered with orange, on each wing. Called also redwinged blackbird, red-winged troupial, marsh blackbird, and swamp blackbird.
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Redwithe (r?dw?th), n. (Bot.) A west Indian climbing shrub (Combretum Jacquini) with slender reddish branchlets.
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Redwood (-w�d), n. (Bot.) (a) A gigantic coniferous tree (Sequoia sempervirens) of California, and its light and durable reddish timber. See . (b) An East Indian dyewood, obtained from Pterocarpus santalinus, Cæsalpinia Sappan, and several other trees.
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☞ The redwood of Andaman is Pterocarpus dalbergioides; that of some parts of tropical America, several species of Erythoxylum; that of Brazil, the species of Humirium.
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Ree (rē), n. [Pg. real, pl. reis. See the money.] See .
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Ree, v. t. [Cf. Prov. G. räden, raden, raiten. Cf. a sieve.] To riddle; to sift; to separate or throw off. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.
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Reebok (r?b?k), n. [D., literally, roebuck.] (Zoöl.) The peele. [Written also rehboc and rheeboc.]
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Reëcho (rēĕk�), v. t. To echo back; to reverberate again; as, the hills reëcho the roar of cannon.
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Reëcho, v. i. To give echoes; to return back, or be reverberated, as an echo; to resound; to be resonant.
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And a loud groan reëchoes from the main. Pope.
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Reëcho, n. The echo of an echo; a repeated or second echo.
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Reechy (rēch�), a. [See .] Smoky; reeky; hence, begrimed with dirt. [Obs.]
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Reed (rēd), a. Red. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Reed, v. & n. Same as . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Reed, n. The fourth stomach of a ruminant; rennet. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]
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Reed, n. [AS. hreód; akin to D. riet, G. riet, ried, OHG. kriot, riot.] 1. (Bot.) A name given to many tall and coarse grasses or grasslike plants, and their slender, often jointed, stems, such as the various kinds of bamboo, and especially the common reed of Europe and North America (Phragmites communis).
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2. A musical instrument made of the hollow joint of some plant; a rustic or pastoral pipe.
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Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed
Of Hermes. Milton.
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3. An arrow, as made of a reed. Prior.
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4. Straw prepared for thatching a roof. [Prov. Eng.]
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5. (Mus.) (a) A small piece of cane or wood attached to the mouthpiece of certain instruments, and set in vibration by the breath. In the clarinet it is a single fiat reed; in the oboe and bassoon it is double, forming a compressed tube. (b) One of the thin pieces of metal, the vibration of which produce the tones of a melodeon, accordeon, harmonium, or seraphine; also attached to certain sets or registers of pipes in an organ.
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6. (Weaving) A frame having parallel flat stripe of metal or reed, between which the warp threads pass, set in the swinging lathe or batten of a loom for beating up the weft; a sley. See .
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7. (Mining) A tube containing the train of powder for igniting the charge in blasting.
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8. (Arch.) Same as .
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Coloq. Egyptian reed (Bot.), the papyrus. -- Coloq. Free reed (Mus.), a reed whose edges do not overlap the wind passage, -- used in the harmonium, concertina, etc. It is distinguished from the beating or striking reed of the organ and clarinet. -- Coloq. Meadow reed grass (Bot.), the Glyceria aquatica, a tall grass found in wet places. -- Coloq. Reed babbler . See . -- Coloq. Reed bunting (Zoöl.) A European sparrow (Emberiza schœniclus) which frequents marshy places; -- called also reed sparrow, ring bunting. (b) Reedling. -- Coloq. Reed canary grass (Bot.), a tall wild grass (Phalaris arundinacea). -- Coloq. Reed grass . (Bot.) (a) The common reed. See , 1. (b) A plant of the genus Sparganium; bur reed. See under . -- Coloq. Reed organ (Mus.), an organ in which the wind acts on a set of free reeds, as the harmonium, melodeon, concertina, etc. -- Coloq. Reed pipe (Mus.), a pipe of an organ furnished with a reed. -- Coloq. Reed sparrow . (Zoöl.) See Reed bunting, above. -- Coloq. Reed stop (Mus.), a set of pipes in an organ furnished with reeds. -- Coloq. Reed warbler . (Zoöl.) (a) A small European warbler (Acrocephalus streperus); -- called also reed wren. (b) Any one of several species of Indian and Australian warblers of the genera Acrocephalus, Calamoherpe, and Arundinax. They are excellent singers. -- Coloq. Sea-sand reed (Bot.), a kind of coarse grass (Ammophila arundinacea). See Beach grass, under . -- Coloq. Wood reed grass (Bot.), a tall, elegant grass (Cinna arundinacea), common in moist woods.
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Reedbird (r?db?rd), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The bobolink. (b) One of several small Asiatic singing birds of the genera Schœnicola and Eurycercus; -- called also reed babbler. Reedbuck (-b?k), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Reeded, a. 1. Civered with reeds; reedy. Tusser.
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2. Formed with channels and ridges like reeds.
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Reeden (r?d'n), a. Consisting of a reed or reeds.
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Through reeden pipes convey the golden flood. Dryden.
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Reëdification (r??d?f?k?sh?n), n. [Cf. F. réédification. See .] The act reëdifying; the state of being reëdified.
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Reëdify (r??d?ff?), v. t. [Pref. re- + edify: cf. F. réédifier, L. reaedificare.] To edify anew; to build again after destruction. [R.] Milton.
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Reeding (rēdĭng), n. [From 4th .] 1. (Arch.) A small convex molding; a reed (see Illust. (i) of ); one of several set close together to decorate a surface; also, decoration by means of reedings; -- the reverse of fluting.
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☞ Several reedings are often placed together, parallel to each other, either projecting from, or inserted into, the adjoining surface. The decoration so produced is then called, in general, reeding.
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2. The nurling on the edge of a coin; -- commonly called milling.
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Reedless, a. Destitute of reeds; as, reedless banks.
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Reedling (rēdlĭng), n. (Zoöl.) The European bearded titmouse (Panurus biarmicus); -- called also reed bunting, bearded pinnock, and lesser butcher bird.
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☞ It is orange brown, marked with black, white, and yellow on the wings. The male has a tuft of black feathers on each side of the face.
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Reed-mace (rēdmās), n. (Bot.) The cat-tail.
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Reedwork (rēdwûrk), n. (Mus.) A collective name for the reed stops of an organ.
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Reedy (rēd�), a. 1. Abounding with reeds; covered with reeds. “A reedy pool.” Thomson .
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2. Having the quality of a reed in tone, that is, harsh and thin, as some voices.
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Reef (rēf), n. [Akin to D. rif, G. riff, Icel. rif, Dan. rev; cf. Icel. rifa rift, rent, fissure, rifa to rive, bear. Cf. , .] 1. A chain or range of rocks lying at or near the surface of the water. See Coral reefs, under .
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2. (Mining.) A large vein of auriferous quartz; -- so called in Australia. Hence, any body of rock yielding valuable ore.
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Coloq. Reef builder (Zoöl.), any stony coral which contributes material to the formation of coral reefs. -- Coloq. Reef heron (Zoöl.), any heron of the genus Demigretta; as, the blue reef heron (Demigretta jugularis) of Australia.
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Reef, n. [Akin to D. reef, G. reff, Sw. ref; cf. Icel. rif reef, rifa to basten together. Cf. , v. t., .] (Naut.) That part of a sail which is taken in or let out by means of the reef points, in order to adapt the size of the sail to the force of the wind.
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☞ From the head to the first reef-band, in square sails, is termed the first reef; from this to the next is the second reef; and so on. In fore-and-aft sails, which reef on the foot, the first reef is the lowest part. Totten.
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Coloq. Close reef , the last reef that can be put in. -- Coloq. Reef band . See in the Vocabulary. -- Coloq. Reef knot , the knot which is used in tying reef pointss. See Illust. under . -- Coloq. Reef line , a small rope formerly used to reef the courses by being passed spirally round the yard and through the holes of the reef. Totten. -- Coloq. Reef points , pieces of small rope passing through the eyelet holes of a reef-band, and used reefing the sail. -- Coloq. Reef tackle , a tackle by which the reef cringles, or rings, of a sail are hauled up to the yard for reefing. Totten. -- Coloq. To take a reef in , to reduce the size of (a sail) by folding or rolling up a reef, and lashing it to the spar.
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Reef, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reefed (rēft); p. pr. & vb. n. Reefing.] (Naut.) To reduce the extent of (as a sail) by rolling or folding a certain portion of it and making it fast to the yard or spar. Totten.
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Coloq. To reef the paddles , to move the floats of a paddle wheel toward its center so that they will not dip so deeply.
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