shortening
nounUK /ˈʃɔːtənɪŋ/
US /ˈʃɔːrtənɪŋ/
Shortening is fat used in baking to make cakes and cookies soft.
Grandma added a spoonful of shortening to the cookie dough.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The act of making something shorter.
The shortening of the school day gave students more free time.
3. A word formed by dropping letters from a longer word, like 'ad' from 'advertisement'.
'Phone' is a shortening of 'telephone'.
4. The process of becoming shorter in length or time.
The shortening of winter days makes it dark early.