Added 9 October 2026 shortening noun Categories: Food & DrinkActionsUncommon Words noun ! Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. More about shortening at Wordnik → Where our words come from → Fat such as butter or lard used in baked goods. Act of decreasing in length. the dress needs shortening Related Words: abridgereduceexpurgatebowdlerizebowdlerisecutabbreviatecontractforeshortenlardcuttingslashing Back to today's word