noun

die Abnahme, -n

decrease

Das ist das Prüfen und Annehmen von etwas, wenn es fertig ist oder geliefert wurde.

Definition & meaning

The German noun Abnahme has several distinct meanings depending on the context:

Decrease or reduction: This is the most common usage, referring to a decline in quantity, size, intensity, or value. For example, it can describe weight loss (Gewichtsabnahme), a drop in temperature, or a decrease in sales figures.
Acceptance or inspection: In technical, legal, or construction contexts, it refers to the formal process of inspecting a finished product or service and officially accepting it. This act usually confirms that the work has been completed according to the contract and transfers risk to the buyer.
Purchase or taking of goods: It refers to the act of buying or taking delivery of a certain quantity of goods, often in a commercial relationship between a supplier and a customer.
Removal: Less commonly, it refers to the physical act of taking something off or away, such as taking off a telephone receiver or removing a medical bandage.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Abnahme). Its plural form is die Abnahmen.

It is derived from the separable verb abnehmen, which consists of two parts:

ab-: A prefix often signifying "away," "down," or "off."
nehmen: The basic German verb for "to take."

Literal translation would be "the taking-off" or "the taking-away," which explains the transition into meanings like reduction or the taking of goods.