subtract
This term carries a precise, clinical tone associated with mathematics and accounting. It describes the act of reduction by removal, creating a clear mental image of taking a part away from a whole to reveal what remains. While it can be used for physical objects, it is most frequently encountered in numerical or financial contexts. In a broader sense, the word implies a loss of value or a decrease in quantity. It is more formal than "take away" and suggests a systematic or calculated process of deduction rather than a random removal.
Meanings
To take away a number or amount from another to find the difference.
"If you subtract 5 from 20, you get 15."
To remove or deduct a specific quantity, value, or quality from a total.
"The company will subtract the taxes from your gross salary."
To perform the mathematical operation of subtraction.
"The students were asked to subtract and multiply using long-form methods."