Definition of: shorten

(shôr′tən) v.t.
1. To make short or shorter; curtail.
2. To reduce; diminish; lessen.
3. To furl or reef (a sail) so that less canvas is exposed to the wind.
4. To make brittle or crisp, as pastry, by adding shortening.
—v.i.
5. To become short or shorter. See synonyms under ABBREVIATE, SCRIMP
—short′en·er noun