subtraction

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin subtractio, subtractionis. Can be decomposed to subtract +‎ -ion.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /səbˈtɹækʃən/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ækʃən

Noun

subtraction (countable and uncountable, plural subtractions)

  1. (arithmetic, uncountable) The process of subtracting a number from another.
  2. (arithmetic, countable) A calculation involving subtracting.
    The teacher has set us ten subtractions to do by tomorrow.
  3. The removal of something.
    The subtraction of the wealth from the economy will result in recession.

Derived terms

Translations

See also