avtakende

Avtakende is a Norwegian adjective meaning diminishing, waning, or decreasing. It is used to describe trends, quantities, or phenomena that diminish over time. In everyday language, phrases such as avtakende interesse, avtakende temperatur, or avtakende vekst are common. The term implies a gradual or ongoing reduction rather than a sudden change and is applicable across disciplines as well as in casual description.

Origin and form: Avtakende derives from the verb avta, meaning to decrease or dwindle; the suffix -ende forms the present participle, producing the adjective avtakende. In many contexts it can function directly as a predicate or attribute.

Technical usage: In mathematics and statistics, avtakende describes a function or sequence that does not increase as the input or index grows. Depending on the convention, it may indicate a non-increasing (monotone avtakende) function or a strictly decreasing one; Norwegian texts often pair it with funksjon or sekvens.

Other domains: In economics, avtakende marginal avkastning refers to diminishing marginal returns; in meteorology, avtakende temperaturendringer can describe cooling trends; in biology, avtakende vekst may indicate slowing growth. The term is general enough to cover gradual declines in various measurable quantities.

See also: økende, monotone, nedadgående.