additive
C1Technical / Scientific
Definition
Meaning
Something added to another thing, typically in small amounts, to improve, preserve, or alter it.
In mathematics, relating to addition; a property where the sum of the whole equals the sum of its parts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary use relates to substances added to food, fuel, or industrial products; secondary mathematical use describes a specific property of functions or sets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling or usage differences; pronunciation varies slightly.
Connotations
Negative connotations ('chemicals') in food context are equally strong in both varieties.
Frequency
More common in chemistry/food science contexts; mathematical sense is specialised.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N as additive in NPbe + V-ed with additiveV NP with additiveVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The effect is additive”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to additives in product manufacturing and their regulatory compliance.
Academic
Used in chemistry, food science, materials engineering, and mathematics.
Everyday
Mostly in discussions about food ingredients ('no artificial additives').
Technical
Precise term in chemistry (e.g., fuel additive), manufacturing (additive manufacturing/3D printing), and mathematics (additive function).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No verb form for 'additive'.
American English
- No verb form for 'additive'.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form for 'additive'.
American English
- No adverb form for 'additive'.
adjective
British English
- The colouring is an additive ingredient.
- The process is additive in nature.
American English
- This fuel contains an additive compound.
- They studied additive functions in the lab.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This yoghurt has no additives.
- Is that a food additive?
- Many people prefer foods without artificial additives.
- The additive improved the paint's durability.
- The new regulations limit the use of certain chemical additives in cosmetics.
- In mathematics, an additive property means you can sum the parts.
- Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is revolutionising prototyping.
- The researchers observed an additive effect when the two compounds were combined.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ADDitive is something you ADD to something else.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADDITIVE IS AN EXTRA LAYER / ADDITIVE IS A MODIFIER
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'аддиктивный' (addictive). 'Добавка' or 'присадка' (technical) are closer translations.
- Avoid direct calque 'аддитивный' for food contexts; it's mathematical/technical in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'additive' with 'addictive'.
- Using as a general synonym for 'extra' or 'additional' outside technical contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'additive manufacturing' a synonym for 3D printing?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Additive' is something added (noun/adjective). 'Addictive' describes a substance or activity causing addiction.
No, it is a neutral technical term. Negative connotations arise in contexts like 'artificial food additives', but in engineering or maths it is purely descriptive.
No, 'additive' is only a noun or adjective. The related verb is 'add'.
It's a number which, when added to the original number, results in zero (e.g., 5 and -5 are additive inverses).
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