What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Condense vs Shorten - What's the difference?

condense | shorten | Related terms |

Shorten is a synonym of condense.



In transitive terms the difference between condense and shorten

is that condense is to decrease size or volume by concentration toward the essence while shorten is to reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.

As an adjective condense

is condensed; compact; dense.

condense

English

Alternative forms

* condence

Verb

  • To decrease size or volume by concentration toward the essence.
  • An abridged dictionary can be further condensed to pocket size.
    Boiling off water condenses a thin sauce into a soupier mixture.
  • To make more close, compact, or dense; to compress or concentrate.
  • * Milton
  • In what shape they choose, / Dilated or condensed , bright or obscure.
  • * Motley
  • The secret course pursued at Brussels and at Madrid may be condensed into the usual formula, dissimulation, procrastination, and again dissimulation.
  • (chemistry) To transform from a gaseous state into a liquid state via condensation.
  • Synonyms

    * (to decrease size or volume) minify

    Antonyms

    * extend * magnify

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (archaic) Condensed; compact; dense.
  • The huge condense bodies of planets. — Bentley.
    ----

    shorten

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make shorter; to abbreviate.
  • * 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]
  • York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole I think; every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and that day we had a steep hill to go up.
  • To become shorter.
  • To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).
  • * Dryden
  • Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.
  • To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
  • To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.
  • to shorten an allowance of food
  • * Dryden
  • Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain.
  • (nautical) To take in the slack of (a rope).
  • (nautical) To reduce (sail) by taking it in.
  • Synonyms

    * See also .

    Antonyms

    * lengthen