'Subtraction' definitions:

Definition of 'subtraction'

(from WordNet)
noun
An arithmetic operation in which the difference between two numbers is calculated; "the subtraction of three from four leaves one"; "four minus three equals one" [syn: subtraction, minus]
noun
The act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole); "he complained about the subtraction of money from their paychecks" [syn: subtraction, deduction] [ant: addition]

Definition of 'Subtraction'

From: GCIDE
  • Subtraction \Sub*trac"tion\, n. [L. subtractio a drawing back. See Subtract, and cf. Substraction.]
  • 1. The act or operation of subtracting or taking away a part. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Math.) The taking of a lesser number or quantity from a greater of the same kind or denomination; an operation for finding the difference between two numbers or quantities. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Law) The withdrawing or withholding from a person of some right to which he is entitled by law. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Thus the subtraction of conjugal rights is when either the husband or wife withdraws from the other and lives separate without sufficient reason. The subtraction of a legacy is the withholding or detailing of it from the legatee by the executor. In like manner, the withholding of any service, rent, duty, or custom, is a subtraction, for which the law gives a remedy. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'subtraction'

From: GCIDE
  • Compound \Com"pound\, a. [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See Compound, v. t.] Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as, a compound word. [1913 Webster]
  • Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
  • Compound addition, subtraction, multiplication, division (Arith.), the addition, subtraction, etc., of compound numbers.
  • Compound crystal (Crystallog.), a twin crystal, or one seeming to be made up of two or more crystals combined according to regular laws of composition.
  • Compound engine (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which the steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder is made to do further service in a larger low-pressure cylinder, sometimes in several larger cylinders, successively.
  • Compound ether. (Chem.) See under Ether.
  • Compound flower (Bot.), a flower head resembling a single flower, but really composed of several florets inclosed in a common calyxlike involucre, as the sunflower or dandelion.
  • Compound fraction. (Math.) See Fraction.
  • Compound fracture. See Fracture.
  • Compound householder, a householder who compounds or arranges with his landlord that his rates shall be included in his rents. [Eng.]
  • Compound interest. See Interest.
  • Compound larceny. (Law) See Larceny.
  • Compound leaf (Bot.), a leaf having two or more separate blades or leaflets on a common leafstalk.
  • Compound microscope. See Microscope.
  • Compound motion. See Motion.
  • Compound number (Math.), one constructed according to a varying scale of denomination; as, 3 cwt., 1 qr., 5 lb.; -- called also denominate number.
  • Compound pier (Arch.), a clustered column.
  • Compound quantity (Alg.), a quantity composed of two or more simple quantities or terms, connected by the sign + (plus) or - (minus). Thus, a + b - c, and bb - b, are compound quantities.
  • Compound radical. (Chem.) See Radical.
  • Compound ratio (Math.), the product of two or more ratios; thus ab:cd is a ratio compounded of the simple ratios a:c and b:d.
  • Compound rest (Mech.), the tool carriage of an engine lathe.
  • Compound screw (Mech.), a screw having on the same axis two or more screws with different pitch (a differential screw), or running in different directions (a right and left screw).
  • Compound time (Mus.), that in which two or more simple measures are combined in one; as, 6-8 time is the joining of two measures of 3-8 time.
  • Compound word, a word composed of two or more words; specifically, two or more words joined together by a hyphen. [1913 Webster]