shortening

To make shorter; to abbreviate.

To become shorter.

To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).

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”

To take in the slack of (a rope).

To reduce (sail) by taking it in.

Fat that is solid at room temperature, such as margarine or lard (not usually used of butter), used to make shortcrust pastry.

Verbal noun of shorten - a reduction in length.