An arithmetic operation in which the difference between two numbers is calculated:
— The subtraction of three from four leaves one.

synonym: minus.

Roget 36: decrease, diminution; lessening etc. v.; subtraction etc. 38; reduction, abatement, declension; shrinking etc. (contraction.) 195; coarctation^†; abridgment etc. (shortening) 201; extenuation.    subsidence, wane, ebb, decline; ebbing; descent etc. 306; decrement, reflux, depreciation; deterioration etc. 659; anticlimax; mitigation etc. (moderation) 174.    ... show more

Roget 85: numeration; numbering etc. v.; pagination; tale, recension^†, enumeration, summation, reckoning, computation, supputation^†; calculation, calculus; algorithm, algorism^†, rhabdology^†, dactylonomy^†; measurement etc. 466; statistics.    arithmetic, analysis, algebra, geometry, analytical geometry, fluxions^†; differential calculus, integral calculus, infinitesimal calculus; calculus of differences.    [Statistics] dead reckoning, muster, poll, census, capitation, roll call, recapitulation; account etc. (list) 86.    [Operations] notation, , addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, rule of three, practice, equations, extraction of roots, reduction, involution, evolution, estimation, approximation, interpolation, differentiation, integration.    [Instruments] abacus, logometer^†, slide rule, slipstick [Coll.], tallies, Napier's bones, calculating machine, difference engine, suan-pan^†; adding machine; cash register; electronic calculator, calculator, computer; [people who calculate] arithmetician, calculator, abacist^†, algebraist, mathematician; statistician, geometer; programmer; accountant, auditor.    ... show more

Roget 789: taking etc. v.; reception etc. (taking in) 296; deglutition etc. (taking food) 298; appropriation, prehension, prensation^†; capture, caption; apprehension, deprehension^†; abreption^†, seizure, expropriation, abduction, ablation; subtraction, withdrawal etc. 38; abstraction, ademption^†; adrolepsy^†.    dispossession; deprivation, deprivement^†; bereavement; divestment; disherison^†; distraint, distress; sequestration, confiscation; eviction etc. 297.    rapacity, rapaciousness, extortion, vampirism; theft etc. 791.    resumption; reprise, reprisal; recovery etc. 775.    clutch, swoop, wrench; grip etc. (retention) 781; haul, take, catch; scramble.    taker, captor.    [Descent of one of the earth's crustal plates under another plate] subduction [Geol.].    ... show more

Dutch: aftrekking, aftrekken
Polish: odejmowanie

The act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole):
— He complained about the subtraction of money from their paychecks.

synonym: deduction.

Roget 38: subtraction, subduction^†; deduction, retrenchment; removal, withdrawal; ablation, sublation^†; abstraction etc. (taking) 789; garbling, etc. v.. mutilation, detruncation^†; amputation; abscission, excision, recision; curtailment etc. 201; minuend, subtrahend; decrease etc. 36; abrasion.    ... show more

Dutch: aftrekking, aftrek
Polish: odejmowanie, ujmowanie