additive
additive — noun
1. a substance put into food or another product in a small amount to change its tas
a substance put into food or another product in a small amount to change its taste, colour, keeping quality, or some other feature.
The label says this juice has no artificial additives at all.
common collocation: artificial additives
Factory workers add a yellow additive to keep the cheese bright.
additive + to-infinitive of purpose
Many parents skip bright blue candy with additives they cannot pronounce.
This bread stays soft because one additive slows the drying process.
The jam company switched to natural additives from seaweed last spring.
- preservative
narrower; used specifically to help food stay fresh longer
- coloring
narrower; used mainly for changing colour
- flavoring
narrower; used mainly for changing taste or smell
文法句型
an additive
additives in food
用法筆記
Usually used for a substance added in a small quantity. In everyday English, it most often refers to food, even though the word can also be used for fuel, paint, or medicine.
常見錯誤
additive — adjective
1. connected with finding a total by putting numbers together.
connected with finding a total by putting numbers together.
In today's lesson, Ms. Chen taught the additive method for finding totals.
domain: mathematics
The quiz asked students to find the additive inverse of negative six.
collocation: additive inverse
Zero is the additive identity in whole-number addition and simple algebra.
Our teacher used the additive property to check the answer twice.
The first worksheet explains additive inverses before students meet negative numbers.
- arithmetical
broader; covers number work in general, not only addition
- mathematical
much broader; can refer to any area of mathematics
- summative
focuses more on the total or sum than on the act of adding
- subtractive
used for subtraction rather than addition
文法句型
additive + noun
用法筆記
Mostly used before a noun in maths or logic contexts. It refers to addition as an operation, not to something extra like 'additional'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a method or system that builds a whole by joining parts one by one.
describing a method or system that builds a whole by joining parts one by one.
The artist used an additive process, painting one thin layer after another.
additive process
This printer works in an additive way, building the shape layer by layer.
pattern: in an additive way
At Lincoln School, the additive approach keeps Spanish and English in daily lessons.
The designer chose additive color mixing for the stage lights.
Engineers chose an additive plan, adding a new bridge deck above the old one.
- subtractive
describes a method that removes or cuts away parts
文法句型
additive + process
additive + approach
用法筆記
Often modifies words like process, approach, way, or mixing. It focuses on the method of building from parts, not on a final effect becoming stronger over time like sense 3.
常見錯誤
3. describing a result where several causes each add their own part and the final e
describing a result where several causes each add their own part and the final effect is their total together.
The two pain pills had an additive effect, so Mia felt very sleepy.
common phrase: additive effect
Night shifts and poor sleep can have additive effects on nurses' health.
additive effects on
Three small fee rises caused an additive increase in the family's water bill.
Sun and wind caused additive damage to the old wooden sign.
Better shoes and hill drills brought additive improvement to Eva's running speed.
- combined
general; does not always mean the separate amounts simply add up
- cumulative
often stresses build-up over time rather than several causes acting together
- joint
shows more than one cause is involved, but not necessarily a summed total
- offsetting
describes causes that reduce or cancel each other's effects
文法句型
additive effect
additive increase
用法筆記
Common with words like effect, increase, damage, and response. Unlike sense 2, this one emphasizes the size of the final result after several causes act together.