Library / English Dictionary

SUPPLEMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A supplementary component that improves capability

Synonyms:

accessory; add-on; appurtenance; supplement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("supplement" is a kind of...):

component; constituent; element (an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "supplement"):

auto accessory (an accessory for an automobile)

computer accessory (an accessory for a computer)

fitting (a small and often standardized accessory to a larger system)

fixings; trimmings (the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity))

Derivation:

supplement (add as a supplement to what seems insufficient)

supplemental; supplementary (functioning in a supporting capacity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency)

Synonyms:

supplement; supplementation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("supplement" is a kind of...):

increase; increment (the amount by which something increases)

Derivation:

supplement (add as a supplement to what seems insufficient)

supplement (serve as a supplement to)

supplemental; supplementary (added to complete or make up a deficiency)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end

Synonyms:

addendum; postscript; supplement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("supplement" is a kind of...):

matter (written works (especially in books or magazines))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "supplement"):

appendix (supplementary material that is collected and appended at the back of a book)

continuation; sequel (a part added to a book or play that continues and extends it)

Holonyms ("supplement" is a part of...):

back matter; end matter (written matter following the main text of a book)

Derivation:

supplement (add to the very end)

supplementary (added to complete or make up a deficiency)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Add to the very end

Example:

He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language

Synonyms:

add on; affix; append; supplement

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "supplement" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "supplement"):

annex (attach to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

supplement (textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end)

supplementation (the act of supplementing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Add as a supplement to what seems insufficient

Example:

supplement your diet

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "supplement" is one way to...):

add (make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of)

"Supplement" entails doing...:

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Verb group:

supplement (serve as a supplement to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "supplement"):

vitaminise; vitaminize (add vitamins as a supplement)

eke out; fill out (supplement what is thought to be deficient)

leverage (supplement with leverage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something with something

Derivation:

supplement (a supplementary component that improves capability)

supplement; supplementation (a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Serve as a supplement to

Example:

Vitamins supplemented his meager diet

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "supplement" is one way to...):

be; comprise; constitute; make up; represent (form or compose)

Verb group:

supplement (add as a supplement to what seems insufficient)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

supplement (a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency))

Credits

 Context examples: 

Women in the study had earlier responded to a questionnaire indicating whether they had taken a supplement containing folic acid in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

(New study suggests high lead levels during pregnancy linked to child obesity, National Institutes of Health)

Betaine hydrochloride is used as a gastric acidifier supplement.

(Betaine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A nutritional supplement containing the active metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine, with potential anti-catabolic and anabolic activities.

(Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate Supplement, NCI Thesaurus)

This supplement also contains several vitamins and other insoluble polysaccharides.

(Beta-glucan/Lactobacillus casei/Bifidobacterium lactis-based Supplement, NCI Thesaurus)

Control of methionine intake and supplementing folic acid and vitamin B12 in the diet are used to lower homocysteine levels.

(Biosynthesis of Cysteine Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

TNM pathologic distant metastasis findings are based on clinical findings supplemented by histopathologic examination of one or more tissue specimens acquired during surgery.

(Bladder Cancer Pathologic Distant Metastasis TNM Finding v6, NCI Thesaurus)

Include over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements and herbs.

(Medication Errors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

TNM pathologic primary tumor findings are based on clinical findings supplemented by histopathologic examination of one or more tissue specimens acquired during surgery.

(Bladder Cancer Pathologic Primary Tumor TNM Finding v6, NCI Thesaurus)

A dietary supplement containing extract from the medicinal fungus Antrodia cinnamomea with potential antiangiogenic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities.

(Antrodia cinnamomea Supplement, NCI Thesaurus)

We can compare notes afterwards, and each will supplement the other.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)