Incrementals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A series of small, incremental additions or changes made to achieve a larger goal
2. Referring to the gradual increase or improvement through small steps that contribute to overall progress
3. Describing minor, manageable enhancements or adjustments that collectively lead to significant development

Etymology: "Incrementals" is the plural of "incremental," a noun meaning a small, step-by-step change or improvement. The adjective "incremental" came first: it was formed in English in the 19th century from "increment," which is itself borrowed from Latin "incrementum," meaning growth or increase, built on the verb "increscere," "to grow." The Latin root has a plain sense of getting bigger, and the noun use arrived in English as a quantity added to something. The noun "incremental" is a later development, and its use in the plural form "incrementals" is mostly recent and largely technical. Its concern is with how a thing is changed in small, measurable stages rather than all at once, and this sense is what gives the word its current meaning in software updates, product design, and planning.

Synonyms: increments, additions, increases

Antonyms: decrements, reductions