'Shorten' definitions:

Definition of 'shorten'

(from WordNet)
verb
Make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration; "He shortened his trip due to illness" [ant: lengthen]
verb
Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" [syn: abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, cut, contract, reduce] [ant: dilate, elaborate, enlarge, expand, expatiate, exposit, expound, flesh out, lucubrate]
verb
Make short or shorter; "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the rope by a few inches"
verb
Become short or shorter; "In winter, the days shorten" [ant: lengthen]
verb
Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate; "bowdlerize a novel" [syn: bowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate, shorten]

Definition of 'Shorten'

From: GCIDE
  • Shorten \Short"en\, v. i. To become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by cold. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Shorten'

From: GCIDE
  • Shorten \Short"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shortened ?}; p. pr. & vb. n. Shortening.] [See Short, a.]
  • 1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an allowance of food, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of. [1913 Webster]
  • Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot liquor, or the like. [1913 Webster]
  • To shorten a rope (Naut.), to take in the slack of it.
  • To shorten sail (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in. [1913 Webster]