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to decrement

to decrement

1 7.4
To make a number or amount smaller, often by one
  • verb
  • /ˈdɛkrɪˌmɛnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : decrementar
  • Each time you click the button, it will decrement the score by one.
  • decrements the count

Examples

  • On each subsequent cycle, the counter generates an output signal WEC = 1 and decrements its internal count value by 1.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Otherwise, a dual-port node decrements the first byte and forwards the frame out of the other port.

    Academic text (1996)
  • So why did I decrement here and then increment there?

  • When you click a second time, it thinks that you want to take away your plus vote, so it decrements one.

    Blog text (20)
  • OK, because every step we're just decrementing the argument by one.

  • For the delay loop, I'll initialize the A register to FF, then decrement A each time through the loop.

  • The FPU decrements each store count entry in the queue each time a store instruction executes.

    Academic text (1994)
  • A form of the branch conditional instruction decrements the count and tests the resulting value; the outcome affects whether the conditional branch is taken.

    Academic text (1994)
  • This down counter continues decrementing its internal count value and generating WEC = 1 on each cycle until an appropriate count is reached (0 or 1, discussed in 3), when it will generate WEC = 0, which remains 0 until a new count value is entered.

    Academic text (1998)
  • When the completion unit retires the finished FPU instruction, the architectural FPSCR is updated from the bottom of the FPSCR rename stack, and the stack is decremented.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

to reduce
vsto decrement
1.6

To make something smaller in amount, size, or number

is about lowering by a specific often small fixed amount
to cut down
vsto decrement
65 2.7

To make something smaller in amount or number

is used for deliberate small numeric reductions rather than casual lowering
to deduct
vsto decrement
57 3.9

Take an amount from a total, usually money

focuses on small fixed decreases rather than money contexts
to subtract
vsto decrement
56 1.6

To take one number away from another

reduces amounts often by a set small number rather than general change
to pare down
vsto decrement
9 4.4

Make something smaller by removing parts you do not need

refers to quick fixed small decreases rather than gradual trimming
to subduct
vsto decrement
8.2

To take an amount away from a total

emphasizes small fixed reductions rather than general subtraction from totals

How Much

to slash
79 3.7
to cut
2.3
to reduce
1.6
to decrease
325 2.0
to decrement
  • Specialized
1 7.4
to diminish
201 3.7

Surface Forms

decrement infinitive
decremented past participle
decrementing present participle
decrements third person singular

Morphology

decrement = increment (semi-transparent) = de + cre + ment

The prefix 'de-' indicates a reversal or reduction, but the specific meaning of reducing by a fixed amount is not entirely obvious.

Etymology

The verb decrement comes from the same old Latin parts de- 'down' and crescere 'to grow', like increase but the opposite. So to decrement is to make a number go 'down', often by one or by a set amount.