First Known Use: 1557
Dictionary
subtract
verb sub·tract \səb-ˈtrakt\
: to take (a number or amount) from another number or amount
Full Definition of SUBTRACT
transitive verb
: to take away by or as if by deducting <subtract 5 from 9> <subtract funds from the project>
intransitive verb
: to perform a subtraction
— sub·tract·er noun
See subtract defined for English-language learners
See subtract defined for kids
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Origin of SUBTRACT
Latin subtractus, past participle of subtrahere to draw from beneath, withdraw, from sub- + trahere to draw
Rhymes with SUBTRACT
abstract, attract, class act, compact, contact, contract, crookbacked, detract, didact, diffract, distract, enact, entr'acte, epact, exact, extract, humpbacked, hunchbacked, impact, infract, intact, mossbacked, playact, protract, react, redact, refract, retract, sex act, swaybacked, transact, unbacked
SUBTRACT Defined for Kids
subtract
verb sub·tract \səb-ˈtrakt\
sub·tract·edsub·tract·ing
Definition of SUBTRACT for Kids
: to take away (as one part or number from another) : deduct
Word Root of SUBTRACT
The Latin word tractus, meaning “pulled” or “dragged,” gives us the root tract. Words from the Latin tractus have to do with being pulled or dragged. To attract is to pull or draw towards you. To distract is to pull someone's attention away from something. To extract is to pull one thing out of another. To subtract is to pull a portion or number away from a group or from a whole.
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