dec-

¹ American  

1. variant of deca- before a vowel.

   decathlon.

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dec. ² American  

abbreviation

1. (in prescriptions) pour off.

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dec. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. deceased.

2. decimeter.

3. declension.

4. decrease.

5. Music. decrescendo.

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Dec. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. December.

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dec. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. deceased

2. music decrescendo

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Dec ² British  

abbreviation

1. December

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Usage

What does dec- mean? Dec- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “ten.” It appears in a small range of terms.Dec- comes from the Greek déka, meaning “ten.” The word December is related to this root via the Latin equivalent, decem. In fact, what is now the twelfth month of the year was once the tenth month of the early Roman calendar. Learn more at our entry for December.What are variants of dec-?Dec- is a variant of deca-, which loses its -a- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. A similar prefix is deka-, which is reserved for the naming of metric units, and a related Latin-origin form is deci-, from Latin decimus, “tenth.”Want to know more? Check out our Words That Use articles for deca-, deci-, and deka-.

Etymology

Origin of dec.

From the Latin word dēcantā

Example Sentences

The plant-based protein company on Tuesday posted a profit of $409.9 million, and a loss of 29 cents on a per share basis, in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $44.9 million, or 65 cents a share, a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then a bearish dark cloud cover on Dec. 19 started a cup with handle base.

From Barron's

Shares have dropped 13% from their all-time closing high of $286.19 on Dec. 2, 2025.

From Barron's

On Monday, the company reported a 2025 net loss that widened to $468.4 million as of Dec. 31, from a year-to-date net loss of $353.2 million as of Sept. 30.

From MarketWatch

On Dec. 12, the stock had plunged a record 33.8% after Fermi said its first prospective client had terminated a tenant agreement.

From MarketWatch