(v. t.) To make less complex; to make clear by giving the explanation for\; to show an easier or shorter process for doing or making.

abridge account for aid allegorize boil down chasten clarify clean up clear the way clear up compress crack curtail cut cut back cut down damp dampen decipher decrease deduct deflate demonstrate demythologize depreciate depress diminish disentangle disinvolve distill downgrade ease elucidate enlighten euhemerize exemplify expedite explain explain away explicate exposit expound facilitate get across get over give reason for give the meaning grease grease the ways grease the wheels hasten help along illuminate illustrate lessen loose lower lubricate make clear make it clear make plain make way for narrow oil open the way open up oversimplify paraphrase pare pave the way popularize prepare the way purify put across put over quicken rationalize reduce reduce to elements refine remove friction restrain retrench roll back run interference for scale down shed light upon shorten show show how show the way smooth smooth the way soap the ways solve speed spell out step down straighten streamline strip down take from throw light upon tune down unbar unblock unclog unfold unjam unlock unravel untangle vulgarize