decrement

[ dek-ruh-muh nt ]
/ ˈdɛk rə mənt /

noun

the act or process of decreasing; gradual reduction.
the amount lost by reduction.
Mathematics. a negative increment.
Physics. the ratio of amplitudes of a damped harmonic motion in the course of two successive oscillations.

Origin of decrement

1475–85; < Latin dēcrēmentum, equivalent to dēcrē(tus) (see decrease) + -mentum -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM decrement

dec·re·men·tal [dek-ruh-men-tl] /ˌdɛk rəˈmɛn tl/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for decrement

British Dictionary definitions for decrement

decrement
/ (ˈdɛkrɪmənt) /

noun

the act of decreasing; diminution
maths a negative increment
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
(of spectra) a sequence of related spectrum lines decaying in intensity, e.g. Balmer decay

Word Origin for decrement

C17: from Latin dēcrēmentum, from dēcrescere to decrease