retrench

retrench
    v 1: tighten one's belt; use resources carefully
    2: make a reduction, as in one's workforce; "The company had to
       retrench"
    

Retrench \Re*trench"\, v. i.
   To cause or suffer retrenchment; specifically, to cut down
   living expenses; as, it is more reputable to retrench than to
   live embarrassed.
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Retrench \Re*trench"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Retrenched}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Retrenching}.] [OF. retrenchier, F. retrancher;
   pref. re- re- + OF. trenchier, F. trancher, to cut. See
   {Trench}.]
   1. To cut off; to pare away.
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            Thy exuberant parts retrench.         --Denham.
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   2. To lessen; to abridge; to curtail; as, to retrench
      superfluities or expenses.
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            But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched.
                                                  --Milton.
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   3. To confine; to limit; to restrict. --Addison.
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            These figures, ought they then to receive a
            retrenched interpretation?            --I. Taylor.
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   4. (Fort.) To furnish with a retrenchment; as, to retrench
      bastions.
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   Syn: To lesen; diminish; curtail; abridge.
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132 Moby Thesaurus words for "retrench":
      abate, abbreviate, abrade, abridge, abstract, arrest, bate, bob,
      boil down, bridle, capsulize, check, clip, compress, condense,
      constrain, contain, contract, control, cool, cool off, crop, curb,
      curtail, curtail expenses, cut, cut back, cut corners, cut down,
      cut off short, cut short, damp, dampen, decelerate, decrease,
      deduct, deflate, depreciate, depress, derogate, detract, diminish,
      disparage, dock, dompt, downgrade, drain, eat away, elide, enjoin,
      epitomize, erode, extract, file away, foreshorten, govern, guard,
      hinder, hold, hold at bay, hold back, hold fast, hold in,
      hold in check, hold in leash, hold up, impair, inhibit, keep,
      keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep under control,
      lay under restraint, leach, lessen, lower, mow, nip, pare,
      pare down expenses, poll, pollard, prohibit, prune, pull, pull in,
      purify, reap, recap, recapitulate, reduce, refine, rein, rein in,
      remove, restrain, retard, roll back, rub away, scale down,
      set back, shave, shear, shorten, simplify, slash, slow down, snub,
      step down, straiten, stunt, subduct, subtract, sum up, summarize,
      synopsize, take a reef, take away, take from, take in, telescope,
      thin, thin out, trim, truncate, tune down, wear away, weed,
      withdraw, withhold