Webster's English Dictionary

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reduction

re.duc.tion \ri-'d*k-sh*n\ \-shn*l, -sh*n-*l\ \-'d*k-tiv\ n [ME reduccion 
   restoration, fr. MF reduction, fr. LL & L; LL redu]ction-, reductio 
   reduction (in a syllogism), fr. L, restoration, fr. reductus, past part. of 
   reducere 1: the act or process of reducing : the state of being reduced  2: 
   something made by reducing  3: MEIOSIS; specif : production of the gametic 
   chromosome num ber in the first meiotic division - re.duc.tion.al aj