minus sign

minus sign — 名詞

1. The symbol (−) used in arithmetic and other areas of mathematics to show that on

1.名詞A2
釋義

減號；負號

數學中表示減法或負數的符號

The symbol (−) used in arithmetic and other areas of mathematics to show that one number is taken away from another, or to indicate that a number is less than zero.

例句

In the sum 25 − 10 = 15, the minus sign tells you to subtract ten from twenty-five.

在算式 25 − 10 = 15 中，減號告訴你要從二十五減去十。

shows subtraction between two numbers in an equation

Hamza checked the weather app and saw a minus sign before the number onscreen.

Hamza 看了天氣預報，看到螢幕上的數字前面有個減號。

indicates a temperature below zero

同義詞
  • negative sign

    Used specifically when the symbol appears before a negative number (e.g., −5); less common for subtraction contexts.

  • subtraction sign

    An informal name that emphasises the symbol's role in subtraction rather than its use with negative quantities.

反義詞
  • plus sign

    The symbol (+) used for addition or to indicate a positive quantity.

文法句型

the minus sign

用法筆記

Do not confuse the minus sign (−) with a hyphen (-) or an en dash (–). The minus sign is longer than a hyphen and is centred vertically, while the hyphen sits on the baseline.

常見錯誤

❌I used a minus sign to connect the two words in the compound adjective.
✅I used a hyphen to connect the two words in the compound adjective.
💡A hyphen (-) joins words; a minus sign (−) is a mathematical symbol.
❌The store gave me a minus sign of twenty percent.
✅The store gave me a discount of twenty percent.
💡'Minus sign' refers to the written symbol (−), not to a reduction in price.