[v] weed out unwanted or unnecessary things; "We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet"
[v] remove irrational qualities from, as in math; "This function can be rationalized"
[v] think rationally; employ logic or reason; "When one wonders why one is doing certain things, one should 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"
[v] structure and run according to rational or scientific principles in order to achieve desired results; "We rationalized the factory's production and raised profits"