minus

[ mahy-nuhs ]
See synonyms for: minusminuses on Thesaurus.com

preposition
  1. less by the subtraction of; decreased by: Ten minus six is four.

  2. lacking or without: a book minus its title page.

adjective
  1. involving or noting subtraction.

  2. algebraically negative: a minus quantity.

  1. less than; just below in quality: to get a C minus on a test.

  2. Informal. having negative qualities or characteristics; inferior.

  3. Mycology. (in heterothallic fungi) designating, in the absence of morphological differentiation, one of the two strains of mycelia that unite in the sexual process.

noun
  1. a minus quantity.

  1. a deficiency or loss.

  2. Informal. a person or thing with no apparent abilities, usefulness, etc.: The last applicant was a definite minus.

Origin of minus

1
1300–50; Middle English <Latin, neuter of minor less; see minor

Words Nearby minus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use minus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for minus

minus

/ (ˈmaɪnəs) /


preposition
  1. reduced by the subtraction of: four minus two (written 4 – 2)

  2. informal deprived of; lacking: minus the trimmings, that hat would be ordinary

adjective
    • indicating or involving subtraction: a minus sign

    • Also: negative having a value or designating a quantity less than zero: a minus number

  1. on the negative part of a scale or coordinate axis: a value of minus 40°C

  1. involving a disadvantage, harm, etc: a minus factor

  2. (postpositive) education slightly below the standard of a particular grade: he received a B minus for his essay

  3. botany designating the strain of a fungus that can only undergo sexual reproduction with a plus strain

  4. denoting a negative electric charge

noun
  1. short for minus sign

  2. a negative quantity

  1. a disadvantage, loss, or deficit

  2. informal something detrimental or negative

Origin of minus

1
C15: from Latin, neuter of minor
  • Mathematical symbol:

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