decrement

dec·re·ment  (dkr-mnt)

n.

1. The act or process of decreasing or becoming gradually less.

2. The amount lost by gradual diminution or waste.

3. Mathematics The amount by which a variable is decreased; a negative increment.

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[Latin dcrmentum, from dcrscere, dcr-, to decrease; see decrease.]

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decre·mental (-mntl) adj.

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decrement [ˈdɛkrɪmənt]

n

1. the act of decreasing; diminution

2. (Mathematics) Maths a negative increment

3. (Physics / General Physics) Physics a measure of the damping of an oscillator, expressed by the ratio of the amplitude of a cycle to its amplitude after one period

4. (Physics / General Physics) of spectra, a sequence of related spectrum lines decaying in intensity, e.g. Balmer decay

[from Latin dēcrēmentum, from dēcrescere to decrease]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	decrement - the amount by which something decreases decrease amount - the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion; "an adequate amount of food for four people" free fall, drop, dip, fall - a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity; "a drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index"; "there was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery"; "a dip in prices"; "when that became known the price of their stock went into free fall" shrinkage - the amount by which something shrinks
	2.	decrement - a process of becoming smaller or shorter decrease physical process, process - a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states; "events now in process"; "the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls" decay, decline - a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current decline, diminution - change toward something smaller or lower desensitisation, desensitization - the process of reducing sensitivity; "the patient was desensitized to the allergen" narrowing - a decrease in width slippage - a decrease of transmitted power in a mechanical system caused by slipping wastage - the process of wasting increment, growth, increase - a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important; "the increase in unemployment"; "the growth of population"