subtractive
Reducing by removal
Subtractive describes processes that work by removal or taking away rather than by adding.
In color theory, subtractive color mixing occurs when pigments or dyes absorb certain wavelengths of light, producing colors by what they subtract from white light—this is how paints, inks, and printing work, in contrast to additive color mixing used in screens.
Manufacturing processes like machining and carving are subtractive, creating objects by cutting material away from a larger block.
Subtraction symbol
- differenceWay things contrast
- decrementFixed amount subtracted
- deductSubtract from a total
- arithmeticMathematics of basic operations
negative · borrow · regrouping · minuend · remainder · algebra · calculation · operation
Take something away
- deleteRemove or erase
- exciseRemove by cutting
- expungeDelete entirely, officially
- eraseRemove recorded marks
efface · purge · omit · exclude · extract · take away · strip · void
Subtractive color model
magenta · yellow · filtering · absorption · printing · overlay · mixing · hue
To make smaller
- lessenReduce in degree
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- minimizeReduce to smallest extent
- reduceMake smaller in degree
shrink · contract · curtail · trim · pare · whittle · prune · cutback
minus
Subtraction symbol
- differenceWay things contrast
- decrementFixed amount subtracted
- deductSubtract from a total
arithmetic · negative · borrow · regrouping · minuend · remainder · algebra · calculation · operation · inverse
remove
Take something away
erase · efface · purge · omit · exclude · extract · take away · strip · void · cancel
CMYK
Subtractive color model
cyan · magenta · yellow · filtering · absorption · printing · overlay · mixing · hue · saturation
diminish
To make smaller
reduce · shrink · contract · curtail · trim · pare · whittle · prune · cutback · streamline
milling
Processing grain mechanically
- machiningSubtractive metalworking process
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- drillingHole-making by rotation
turning · lathing · grinding · CNC · boring · reaming · routing · shaping · planing · etching
carving
Shaping by cutting away
granite · limestone · alabaster · woodcarving · relief · bas-relief · chip · gouge · hewn · maquette
- sculpturestatue, sculpture, sculptor, sculpting, bronze
- synthesizerssynthesizer, synth, modular, analog, oscillator
subtractiveadditive
Substance mixed in
summative · augmentative · addable · plus
subtractiveadditive
Substance mixed in
cumulative · accumulative · incremental · supplemental · supplementary
- subtraction errorMistake when taking away