English-English Dictionary

Meaning of the word shortening in English

What does shortening mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

shortening

US /ˈʃɔːrt.nɪŋ/
UK /ˈʃɔː.tən.ɪŋ/
"shortening" picture

Noun

1.

fat (such as butter, lard, or vegetable oil) used to make pastry or bread crisp and flaky

Example:
•
Add a tablespoon of shortening to the flour mixture.
•
The pie crust was made with vegetable shortening.
Synonym:
lard butter margarine fat grease
2.

the action or process of making something shorter

Example:
•
The shortening of the school day was met with mixed reactions.
•
The shortening of the skirt made it more fashionable.
Synonym:
abbreviation truncation condensation curtailment reduction
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