shorten

shorten, abbreviate, abridge, cut

这些动词均含有“缩短”之意。
shorten: 通常指缩短时间、尺寸或过程。
abbreviate: 指省去应有的或后续的部分，从而使整体缩短。也可指缩短时间。
abridge: 多指对书籍的删节或缩短，删去不重要部分而保存其精华。
cut: 普通用词，指任何缩短而缩减的过程。

动词 shorten:

1. make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration
2. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
   同义词：abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, cut, contract, reduce
3. make short or shorter
4. become short or shorter
5. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
   同义词：bowdlerize, bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate

1. Lively companionship shorten the mile.
   欢乐同路人，行程不觉长。
2. My teacher asked me to shorten the report to one page.
   老师让我把报告缩短为一页。
3. She shortened the shirt by an inch.
   她把衬衫截短了一英寸。