prep
minus
MEYE-nuhs
prep
1
Reduced by; with a certain amount subtracted.
"Ten minus three is seven."
"He came to work minus his laptop, which he'd left at home."
noun
1
A drawback or disadvantage.
"The only minus of the new flat is the noisy street outside."
adj
1
Negative, or below a given value.
"Temperatures dropped to minus ten overnight."
How to Use Minus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe word for subtraction, a negative amount, or (informally) a downside.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
pros and minuses
minus sign
minus degrees
Word Forms
minused past tense, minussed past tense, minuses plural, minusses plural, Minuses plural, minuses singular, minusses singular
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Ten _____ three is seven.
Etymology
From Latin minus, meaning "less," the neuter form of minor ("smaller").