Verb
1. defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning;
"rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior""he rationalized his lack of success"2. weed out unwanted or unnecessary things;
"We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet"3. structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results;
"We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits"4. think rationally; employ logic or reason;
"When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should rationalize"5. remove irrational quantities from;
"This function can be rationalized"