shortens

1. make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or durationExamples: "He shortened his trip due to illness"Synonyms: shortenAntonyms: lengthen

2. reduce in scope while retaining essential elementsExamples: "The manuscript must be shortened"Synonyms: abbreviate, abridge, contract, cut, foreshorten, reduce, shortenAntonyms: expand

3. make short or shorterExamples: "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the rope by a few inches"Synonyms: shorten

4. become short or shorterExamples: "In winter, the days shorten"Synonyms: shortenAntonyms: lengthen

5. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicateExamples: "bowdlerize a novel"Synonyms: bowdlerise, bowdlerize, castrate, expurgate, shorten