rationalize : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: rationalize	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for rationalize
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
rationalize v defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success" Synonym(s): apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationalise weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet" Synonym(s): cut, prune, rationalize, rationalise structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits" Synonym(s): rationalize, rationalise think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize" Synonym(s): rationalize, rationalise remove irrational quantities from; "This function can be rationalized" Synonym(s): rationalize, rationalise
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Rationalize \Ra"tionalize\, v. i. To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism. Theodore . . . is just considered the chief rationalizing doctor of antiquity. --J. H. Newman.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Rationalize \Ra"tionalize\, v. t. 1. To make rational; also, to convert to rationalism. 2. To interpret in the manner of a rationalist. 3. To form a rational conception of. 4. (Alg.) To render rational; to free from radical signs or quantities.