additive

[ ad-i-tiv ]
/ ˈæd ɪ tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR additive ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

something that is added, as one substance to another, to alter or improve the general quality or to counteract undesirable properties: an additive that thins paint.
Nutrition.
  1. Also called food additive. a substance added directly to food during processing, as for preservation, coloring, or stabilization.
  2. something that becomes part of food or affects it as a result of packaging or processing, as debris or radiation.

adjective

characterized or produced by addition; cumulative: an additive process.
Mathematics. (of a function) having the property that the function of the union or sum of two quantities is equal to the sum of the functional values of each quantity; linear.

Origin of additive

From the Late Latin word additīvus, dating back to 1690–1700. See additament, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM additive

ad·di·tive·ly, adverb in·ter·ad·di·tive, adjective sub·ad·di·tive, adjective sub·ad·di·tive·ly, adverb

Words nearby additive

addition polymerization, addition reaction, additional, additional member system, additionality, additive, additive color, additive effect, additive group, additive identity, additive inverse

Words related to additive

supplement, preservative, addition, extra, accompaniment, add-on

Example sentences from the Web for additive

British Dictionary definitions for additive

additive
/ (ˈædɪtɪv) /

adjective

characterized or produced by addition; cumulative

noun

any substance added to something to improve it, prevent deterioration, etc
short for food additive

Word Origin for additive

C17: from Late Latin additīvus, from addere to add

Medical definitions for additive

additive
[ ăd′ĭ-tĭv ]

n.

A substance added in small amounts to something else to improve, strengthen, or otherwise alter it.

Other words from additive

ad′di•tive adj.

Scientific definitions for additive

additive
[ ăd′ĭ-tĭv ]

Noun

A substance added in small amounts to something else to improve, strengthen, or otherwise alter it. Additives are used for a variety of reasons. They are added to food, for example, to enhance taste or color or to prevent spoilage. They are added to gasoline to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, and to plastics to enhance molding capability.

Adjective

Relating to the production of color by the mixing of light rays of varying wavelengths.♦ The additive primaries red, green, and blue are those colors whose wavelengths can be mixed in different proportions to produce all other spectral colors. Compare subtractive. See Note at color.
Mathematics Marked by, produced by, or involving addition.