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