minus

Meaning

Prep

1. Made less or reduced by (followed by an expression of number or quantity).
2. (informal) Without; deprived of.

Noun

1. The minus sign (−).
2. A negative quantity.
3. A downside or disadvantage.

Adj

1. Being a negative quantity; pertaining to a deficit or reduction.
2. That is below zero by (a specified amount) on a scale.
3. (colloquial,obsolete) Worse off than before; out of pocket.
4. Ranking just below (a designated rating).

Verb

To subtract.

Synonyms

negative

less

without

minus sign

subtract

subtraction

except

less than

lacking

laceration

lesion

negation

negative quantity

negative sign

plague

remove

sans

scourge

separate

set aside

sine

sore

subtractive

wanting

wound

subzero

coastdown

negative number

tally down

away

negative indication

canker

decrement

deduct

drawback

eliminate

exclude

excluding

injury

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmaɪnəs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: mynus

In summary

From Middle English mynus, from Latin minus, neuter form of minor, comparative form of parvus (“small, little”), from the Proto-Indo-European root *mey- (“few, small”).