Minus

[mahy-nuh s] /ˈmaɪ nəs/

preposition
1.
less by the subtraction of; decreased by:
Ten minus six is four.
2.
lacking or without:
a book minus its title page.
adjective
3.
involving or noting subtraction.
4.
algebraically negative:
a minus quantity.
5.
less than; just below in quality:
to get a C minus on a test.
6.
Informal. having negative qualities or characteristics; inferior.
7.
Mycology. (in heterothallic fungi) designating, in the absence of morphological differentiation, one of the two strains of mycelia that unite in the sexual process.
noun
8.
.
9.
a minus quantity.
10.
a deficiency or loss.
11.
Informal. a person or thing with no apparent abilities, usefulness, etc.:
The last applicant was a definite minus.
/ˈmaɪnəs/
preposition
1.
reduced by the subtraction of: four minus two (written 4 – 2)
2.
(informal) deprived of; lacking: minus the trimmings, that hat would be ordinary
adjective
3.

4.
on the negative part of a scale or coordinate axis: a value of minus 40°C
5.
involving a disadvantage, harm, etc: a minus factor
6.
(postpositive) (education) slightly below the standard of a particular grade: he received a B minus for his essay
7.
(botany) designating the strain of a fungus that can only undergo sexual reproduction with a plus strain
8.
denoting a negative electric charge
noun
9.
short for minus sign
10.
a negative quantity
11.
a disadvantage, loss, or deficit
12.
(informal) something detrimental or negative
prep.

late 15c., “with subtraction of,” from Latin minus “less,” neuter of minor “smaller,” from PIE *mi-nu-, suffixed form of root *mei- “small” (cf. Latin minuere “to diminish, reduce, lessen,” Greek meion “less, smaller,” Old English minsian “to diminish,” Sanskrit miyate “diminishes, declines,” Russian men’she “less”).

Mathematical use in expressions of calculation did not exist in the word in classical Latin and is probably from North Sea medieval commercial usage of Latin plus and minus to indicate surplus or deficiency of weight or measure. Origin of the “minus sign” is disputed.
n.

1650s, from minus (prep.).

noun

A disadvantage: that degree is actually a minus for him (1708+)

–
Common: dash; ITU-T: hyphen; ITU-T: minus. Rare: INTERCAL: worm; option; dak; bithorpe.