additive
AD-ih-tihv
Additive (noun) means a substance added to something else in small amounts to change or improve it. Example: “The food contains no artificial additives.”
noun
1
A substance added to something else in small amounts to change or improve it.
"The food contains no artificial additives."
"Fuel additives can improve engine performance."
adjective
1
Relating to or produced by addition.
"The effects of the two drugs were additive rather than one canceling the other out."
How to use additive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small extra ingredient mixed in to change a product's properties, or (as an adjective) something that works by simple addition.
Common pairings
food additive
chemical additive
additive effect
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Word forms
- Plural
- additives
- Comparative
- more additive
- Superlative
- most additive
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The food contains no artificial _____.
Etymology
From Late Latin additivus, based on the stem of Latin addere, "to add."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for additive
See all rhymes for additive →Frequently asked questions
What does “additive” mean?
The word “additive” means a substance added to something else in small amounts to change or improve it. In plain terms, a small extra ingredient mixed in to change a product's properties, or (as an adjective) something that works by simple addition.
How do you pronounce “additive”?
“Additive” is pronounced AD-ih-tihv (/ˈæd.ɪ.tɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “additive” in a sentence?
Here is “additive” used in a sentence: “The food contains no artificial additives.”
What part of speech is “additive”?
Depending on how it is used, “additive” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “additive” come from?
The word “additive” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin additivus, based on the stem of Latin addere, "to add.".
Is “additive” a common word?
“Additive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “additive” have?
“Additive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a substance added to something else in small amounts to change or improve it.
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