An additive is a substance which is added in small amounts to foods or other things in orderto improve them or to make them last longer.
Strict safety tests are carried out on food additives.
...additive-free baby foods.
Synonyms: added ingredient, artificial or synthetic ingredient, E number, extra More Synonyms of additive
additive in British English
(ˈædɪtɪv)
adjective
1.
characterized or produced by addition; cumulative
noun
2.
any substance added to something to improve it, prevent deterioration, etc
3. short for food additive
Word origin
C17: from Late Latin additīvus, from addere to add
additive in American English
(ˈædətɪv)
adjective
1.
showing or relating to addition
2.
to be added
noun
3.
a substance added to another in small quantities to produce a desired effect, as a preservative added to food or an antiknock added to gasoline
Word origin
LL additivus: see add1
additive in Automotive Engineering
(ædɪtɪv)
Word forms: (regular plural) additives
noun
(Automotive engineering: Fuels, oils, emissions, and other fluids)
An additive is a small amount of chemical substance that is added to improve the quality of fuel.
Oil refiners are required to use more ethanol as a gasoline additive for cleaner-burning fuel.
Oil companies are being sued because of the additive MTBE, which has been found to pollute water.
A fuel additive is used to raise the octane level for motors in vehicles to help them run more smoothlywhile improving performance.
Examples of 'additive' in a sentence
additive
The food is mainly vegan, with no additives or chemicals.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Always avoid cheap foods with excessive additives, preservatives or added grains because they can make skin problems worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Experts warned that some of the additives in processed food and drink could make it harder to conceive, after one of the first studies of its kind.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This provides additives that are used in the fluid catalyst cracking process in petroleum refining.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are also many additives in fast foods like burgers.
The Sun (2016)
These are very basic and exclude any chemical additives.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
With extra sugar and additives you need to pick carefully to get the best for your body.
The Sun (2014)
This aspect has become important with the increased use of food additives.
Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)
He had experimented with prison populations by giving them food low in additives and sugar.
Hanssen, Maurice & Marsden, Jill E For Additives (1987)
The mere presence of chemical additives in food may cause some trace elements to become unavailable.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
They have often been sweetened with sugar or artificial additives.
The Sun (2015)
It has an ace taste and no additives or preservatives.
The Sun (2012)
Its fibre is being used as an additive in construction blocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It had the same unique selling point but it was made with cheaper ingredients and chemical additives.
Joanna Blythman SHOPPED: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets (2004)
Look for those that still declare no added salt and sugar and artificial additives.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
When mixed with certain fuel additives available from high street shops it can be used in diesel engines.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Most fuel additives are soluble cleaning chemicals that manufacturers claim enhance engine performance when mixed with petrol or diesel.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We buy organic vegetables because we want things that are grown with the least amount of additives and preservatives.
Christianity Today (2000)
The third factor is an allergy either to a particular food itself or to a chemical additive found in food.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
More research needs to be done before the replacement of " artificial " additives in this way can be considered beneficial.
Hanssen, Maurice & Marsden, Jill E For Additives (1987)
Parents and others worried that many drinks contain additives and possibly pesticide residues need look no further for a safe alternative.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
Foods containing artificial additives or preservatives.
Siegel, Bernie S. (MD) Love, Medicine and Miracles (1990)
Alternatively, the plant itself may be used as a more simple bathing additive.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
They contain no additives and are simply made from wheat flour, palm oil and salt.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Organic wines contain fewer additives, which may help.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I keep a bottle of herbal oil solely as a bath additive and body oil.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
A ready meal may include half a dozen artificial additives, not to mention lashings of sugar and fat.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
additive
British English: additive /ˈædɪtɪv/ NOUN
An additive is a substance which is added to food by the manufacturer for a particular purpose, such as colouring it.
Strict safety tests are carried out on food additives.
American English: additive
Arabic: عُنْصُر إِضافِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: aditivo
Chinese: 添加剂
Croatian: dodatak
Czech: přísada
Danish: tilsætningsstof
Dutch: additief
European Spanish: aditivo
Finnish: lisäaine
French: additif
German: Zusatz
Greek: πρόσθετο
Italian: additivo
Japanese: 添加剤
Korean: 첨가물
Norwegian: tilsetningsstoff
Polish: dodatek
European Portuguese: aditivo
Romanian: aditiv
Russian: добавка
Latin American Spanish: aditivo
Swedish: tillsatsmedel
Thai: วัตถุเจือปน
Turkish: katkı maddesi
Ukrainian: добавка
Vietnamese: phụ gia
All related terms of 'additive'
additive-free
(of food) not containing any chemical additives
food additive
any of various natural or synthetic substances, such as salt, monosodium glutamate , or citric acid, used in the commercial processing of food as preservatives , antioxidants , emulsifiers , etc, in order to preserve or add flavour , colour, or texture to processed food
additive inverse
the number that must be added to a number to equal zero
additive primary
any of three spectral colours (usually red , green , and blue ) that can be mixed to match any other colour, including white light but excluding black
additive process
a photographic process in which the desired colours are produced by adding together appropriate proportions of three primary colours
artificial additive
artificial flavouring , colouring or preservatives
primary colour
Primary colours are basic colours that can be mixed together to produce other colours. They are usually considered to be red, yellow, blue, and sometimes green.
subtractive primary
any of three spectral colours (usually red , green , and blue ) that can be mixed to match any other colour, including white light but excluding black
Chinese translation of 'additive'
additive
(ˈædɪtɪv)
n(c)
添加剂(劑) (tiānjiājì) (种(種), zhǒng)
(noun)
Definition
any substance added to something, such as food, to improve it or prevent deterioration
additive-free baby foods
Synonyms
added ingredient
artificial or synthetic ingredient
E number
extra
Optional extras including cooking tuition.
supplement
I had to pay a single room supplement.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of extra
Definition
a person or thing that is additional
Optional extras including cooking tuition.
Synonyms
addition,
bonus,
supplement,
accessory,
complement,
add-on,
affix,
adjunct,
appendage,
addendum,
supernumerary,
appurtenance,
x
in the sense of supplement
Definition
(of money) an additional payment to obtain special services