shorten
abbreviate
abridge
condense【导航词义:缩短,节略】
shorten v. 缩短,(使)变短
〔辨析〕指压缩文章、著作等的篇幅而内容基本不变,也可指缩短时间、尺寸、过程等。
〔例证〕
This article is too long. You'd better shorten it drastically.
这篇文章太长了,你最好大刀阔斧地删减一下。
Please shorten your composition.
请压缩一下你的作文。
The long pole was shortened.
那根长竿子被弄短了。
abbreviate v. 缩写,缩短
〔辨析〕通常用于缩写单词、名称,有时也指缩短演讲稿、小说、仪式、服装等。
〔例证〕
China Central Television is usually abbreviated to CCTV.
(中国中央电视台)通常被缩略为CCTV。
The ceremony was abbreviated by rain.
仪式因天下雨而缩短了。
abridge v. 删节,节略
〔辨析〕主要指删去书、剧本等不重要的部分而保存其精华。
〔例证〕
A long story can be abridged by leaving out unimportant parts.
可将一个冗长故事中无关紧要的部分删去以减少篇幅。
Who has the right to abridge readers' letters except for Susan?
除了苏珊谁有权利删节读者的来信?
condense v. 压缩,使简洁
〔辨析〕多指将讲话、文章等压缩,常与介词 into 连用。
〔例证〕
This chapter could be condensed into a few paragraphs.
这一章可以压缩成几个段落。
He condensed his letter of application into one page.
他将申请书精简为一页纸。