increment

[ in-kruh-muhnt, ing- ]

noun

1. something added or gained; addition; increase.
2. profit; gain.
3. the act or process of increasing; growth.
4. an amount by which something increases or grows:

   a weekly increment of $25 in salary.

5. one of a series of regular additions:

   You may make deposits in increments of $500.

6. Mathematics.
   1. the difference between two values of a variable; a change, positive, negative, or zero, in an independent variable.
   2. the increase of a function due to an increase in the independent variable.

increment

/ ˈɪnkrɪmənt /

noun

1. an increase or addition, esp one of a series
2. the act of increasing; augmentation
3. maths a small positive or negative change in a variable or function. Symbol: Δ, as in Δ x or Δ f

Other Words From

• in·cre·men·tal [in-kr, uh, -, men, -tl, ing-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of increment¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin incrēmentum an increase, equivalent to incrē ( scere ) to grow ( increase ) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of increment¹

C15: from Latin incrēmentum growth, increase