Shortening

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Shorten \Short"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shortened ?}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Shortening}.] [See {Short}, a.]
     1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as,
        to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of
        calamity.
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     2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to
        lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to
        shorten work, an allowance of food, etc.
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              Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am
              shortened by my chain.                --Dryden.
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     3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of.
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              Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.
                                                    --Dryden.
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     4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard,
        pot liquor, or the like.
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     {To shorten a rope} (Naut.), to take in the slack of it.
  
     {To shorten sail} (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Shortening \Short"en*ing\, n.
     1. The act of making or becoming short or shorter.
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     2. (Cookery) That which renders pastry short or friable, as
        butter, lard, etc.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  shortening
       n 1: fat such as butter or lard used in baked goods
       2: act of decreasing in length; "the dress needs shortening"