Definitions
1.verbTo make shorter; to abbreviate.
2.verbTo become shorter.
3.verbTo make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).
4.verbTo make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
5.verbTo reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen."to shorten an allowance of food"
6.verbTo take in the slack of (a rope).
7.verbTo reduce (sail) by taking it in.
8.nounFat that is solid at room temperature, such as margarine or lard (not usually used of butter), used to make shortcrust pastry.
9.nounVerbal noun of shorten - a reduction in length.