Reduces pieces of meat (5)
I believe the answer is:
chops
This could be a double definition.
'reduces' is the first definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'pieces of meat' is the second definition.
The definition and answer can be both things that one consumes for nourishment as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chops that I've seen before include "Cuts of meat including part of a rib" , "Cuts; slices of meat" , "Hacks" , "trap" , "Axes" .)