to make short or shorter.

to reduce, decrease, take in, etc.

to shorten sail.

to make (pastry, bread, etc.) short, as with butter or other fat.

Sports . choke ( def. 8 ) .

to become short or shorter.

(of odds) to decrease.

verb

amplify , elongate , enlarge , grow , increase , lengthen

verb

abbreviate , abridge , blue pencil , bob , boil down * , chop , clip , compress , condense , contract , curtail , cut , cut back , cut down , cut to the bone , dock , edit , elide , excerpt , lessen , lop , make a long story short , minimize , put in a nutshell , reduce , retrench , shrink , slash , snip , trim , circumscribe , confine , decrease , deprive , diminish , epitomize , limit , nip , restrain , restrict , truncate