SUPPLEMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does supplement mean? 

• SUPPLEMENT (noun)
  The noun SUPPLEMENT has 3 senses:

1. textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end

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

3. a supplementary component that improves capability

  Familiarity information: SUPPLEMENT used as a noun is uncommon.

• SUPPLEMENT (verb)
  The verb SUPPLEMENT has 3 senses:

1. add as a supplement to what seems insufficient

2. serve as a supplement to

3. add to the very end

  Familiarity information: SUPPLEMENT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUPPLEMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

addendum; postscript; supplement

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

supplement; supplementation

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:

A supplementary component that improves capability

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

accessory; add-on; appurtenance; supplement

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)

• SUPPLEMENT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they supplement    ... he / she / it supplements   
Past simple: supplemented   
Past participle: supplemented   
-ing form: supplementing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Add as a supplement to what seems insufficient

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

supplement your diet

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 2

Meaning:

Serve as a supplement to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

Vitamins supplemented his meager diet

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))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Add to the very end

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

add on; affix; append; supplement

Context example:

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

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)

 Context examples 

A new study has found that anti-tuberculosis drugs killed more bacteria in laboratory mice given a vitamin C supplement than those given drugs alone.

(Vitamin C Might Shorten Tuberculosis Treatment Time, Study Indicates, VOA/Steve Baragona)

Taking a daily vitamin D supplement does not prevent type 2 diabetes in adults at high risk, according to results from a study.

(Vitamin D does not prevent type 2 diabetes in people at high risk, National Institutes of Health)

Probiotics frequently are recommended as dietary supplements to improve digestive health.

(Study finds probiotic Bacillus eliminates Staphylococcus bacteria, National Institutes of Health)

These results suggest that 8 weeks may not be enough time for many donors to sufficiently recover lost iron, particularly without taking iron supplements.

(Iron Supplements Hasten Recovery in Blood Donors, NIH)

High-dose supplements of antioxidants may be linked to health risks in some cases.

(Antioxidants, NIH: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)

A dietary supplement containing all or most of the vitamins and some minerals which may not be readily available in the diet.

(Multivitamins/Minerals, NCI Thesaurus)

Pathologic staging uses evidence acquired during the process of clinical staging, supplemented by histopathologic examination of surgical specimens.

(Pathological staging, NCI Thesaurus)

Some interact with other medicines, supplements, foods or drinks.

(Over-the-Counter Medicines, Food and Drug Administration)

Nicotinamide is found in many plant and animal products and in dietary supplements.

(Nicotinamide, NCI Dictionary)

Niacinamide is found in many plant and animal products and in dietary supplements.

(Niacinamide, NCI Dictionary)