indicating or requiring subtraction; having a minus sign: –x is a subtractive quantity
subtractive in Science
subtractive
(səb-trāk'tĭv)
Relating to the production of color by the blocking or removal of varying wavelengths, as with colored filters, or by the mixing of pigments that absorb certain wavelengths and reflect others. ◇ The subtractive primaries cyan, magenta, and yellow are those colors whose wavelengths can be filtered or absorbed in different proportions to produce all other colors. Compare additive. See Note at color.