Reduction
noun /rɪˈdʌk.ʃən/ — A liquid concentrated by simmering to intensify its flavor.
Definition
A cooking technique in which a liquid — stock, wine, juice — is simmered uncovered to evaporate water content, concentrating its flavor, thickening its texture, and intensifying its color.
Beyond the definition
Every great sauce is a reduction — hours of simmering until only the essential remains. Some things only become themselves through patient concentration.
Origin & history
From Latin 'reductio' (a leading back). The culinary sense of 'making smaller to make more intense' has been in English since the 17th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
A red wine reduction turns even a basic pan sauce into something worth eating slowly.
She reduced the stock for three hours — the kitchen filled with the smell of concentrated time.
The balsamic reduction had taken hours and was now a quarter of its original volume — but worth every minute.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Reduction” when the meaning fits your context: A cooking technique in which a liquid — stock, wine, juice — is simmered uncovered to evaporate water content, concentrating its flavor, thickening its texture, and intensifying its color.
Synonyms
concentrate, decoction, essence, jus
Antonyms
dilution, thinning
Related words
Reduction vs thickening
Reduction concentrates flavor by evaporating water through heat. Thickening adds an agent like starch to alter the viscosity without necessarily deepening flavor intensity.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Bread Dipped Into Rich Sauce
A person dips crusty bread into a dark, rich, simmering sauce, with steam rising and an expression of complete satisfaction.
A reduction is a liquid simmered uncovered to evaporate water and concentrate flavor. The dark, rich sauce illustrates this technique, where the cooking process intensifies color and texture into a deep foundation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Reduction" mean?
Reduction is noun meaning: A liquid concentrated by simmering to intensify its flavor.. A cooking technique in which a liquid — stock, wine, juice — is simmered uncovered to evaporate water content, concentrating its flavor, thickening its texture, and intensifying its color.
Where does the word "Reduction" come from?
From Latin 'reductio' (a leading back). The culinary sense of 'making smaller to make more intense' has been in English since the 17th century.