shorten

v 1: make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in

length or duration; "He shortened his trip due to

illness" [ant: {lengthen}]

2: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The

manuscript must be shortened" [syn: {abridge}, {foreshorten},

{abbreviate}, {cut}, {contract}, {reduce}]

3: make short or shorter; "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the

rope by a few inches"

4: become short or shorter; "In winter, the days shorten" [ant:

{lengthen}]

5: edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate;

"bowdlerize a novel" [syn: {bowdlerize}, {bowdlerise}, {expurgate}]