INDEX:
1. to add a new part or piece to something
2. to add more to an amount or cost
3. to add something to something you are cooking or mixing
4. to add a quality or characteristic to something
5. to add something to what has already been said or written
6. something that is added
RELATED WORDS
to add numbers or amounts together : ↑ COUNT/CALCULATE
to take a number from another number : ↑ COUNT/CALCULATE
to make something increase : ↑ INCREASE
see also
↑ REDUCE
↑ TOTAL
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1. to add a new part or piece to something
▷ add /æd/ [transitive verb]
to add a new part or piece to something, especially in order to improve it :
add something
▪ If you need more storage space it’s possible to add more shelves.
▪ The book would look a lot more attractive if they added a few color pictures.
add something to something
▪ Adding fertilizer to the soil will help the plants to grow more quickly.
▷ add on /ˌæd ˈɒn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to add something to a building in order to improve it or make it larger :
add on something
▪ We’re having a bedroom added on to the back of the house.
add something on
▪ By adding a garage on, you can increase the value of your home.
2. to add more to an amount or cost
▷ add /æd/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
▪ They seem to have added a 10% service charge.
add something to something
▪ New fire-safety equipment had to be installed, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of the repairs.
add to something
▪ Catherine won’t mind if you add to her workload give her more work -- she needs the extra money.
▷ put something on /ˌpʊt something ˈɒn/ [transitive phrasal verb] British
to add an amount of money, especially a tax, to the cost of something :
▪ There are rumours that the government plans to put 20p on the cost of a packet of cigarettes.
▪ The new tax could put another ten cents on the price of gas.
▷ supplement /ˈsʌplɪment, ˈsʌpləment/ [transitive verb]
to add more to something so that you have enough -- used especially about someone adding to an amount of money, or someone eating more of a particular type of food to make them healthy :
▪ Tracy gives her children vitamin pills to supplement their diet.
▪ Mary found it necessary to supplement her earnings by writing articles for magazines.
3. to add something to something you are cooking or mixing
▷ add /æd/ [transitive verb]
▪ I think you need to add a little more salt.
add something to something
▪ Add milk to the mixture before heating it.
▪ John added some water to the paint to make it thinner.
4. to add a quality or characteristic to something
▷ add also lend formal /æd, lend/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to add a quality or feature to something, for example by making it more interesting, attractive, or enjoyable :
▪ The car chase isn’t really necessary to the story, but it adds an element of excitement.
▪ Using actual furniture from the 1920s should help lend some authenticity.
add/lend something to something
▪ Fine champagne always adds glamour to an occasion.
▪ The strange music lends an air of mystery to the movie.
▪ The two new members added nothing to the band’s sound.
▪ The fresh chilies add a spicy flavor to the sauce.
▷ give /gɪv/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to add a quality or feature to something or someone :
give something something
▪ The new sponsor gives the theatre some respectability.
give somebody something
▪ His uniform gave him an air of authority.
5. to add something to what has already been said or written
▷ add /æd/ [transitive verb]
▪ That’s my report. Is there anything you’d like to add, Peter?
▪ ‘Finally,’ she added, ‘I would like to thank my family for all their help.’
add that
▪ Barker refused to answer more questions, adding that he had already said too much.
I might add
spoken used especially when you are complaining about something
▪ The bus was two hours late and, I might add, they tried to charge my children the full adult fare!
▷ tack on /ˌtæk ˈɒn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to add something at the end of something else -- use this especially when you think someone has added something carelessly and without enough thought :
tack on something
▪ The company gave a very long and confusing explanation, and just tacked on a short apology right at the end.
tack something on
▪ It looks like the director ran out of ideas and tacked the last part of the film on.
6. something that is added
▷ addition /əˈdɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
▪ Additions are made to the list from time to time.
addition to
▪ There has been a last minute addition to the programme for the President’s visit.
a new addition
a new person or thing in a group or list
▪ In the last three months there has been a new addition to the family - our daughter, Rachel.
▷ additive /ˈædɪtɪv, ˈædətɪv/ [countable noun]
something added to food in order to make it last longer, taste better, or look more attractive :
▪ This product contains no artificial additives.
▪ Foods sold under this label are guaranteed to be free from additives and preservatives.
▷ supplement /ˈsʌplɪmənt, ˈsʌpləmənt/ [countable noun]
something that is added to something else in order to improve it or make it complete :
▪ Doctors believe that vitamin supplements are largely unnecessary.
supplement to
▪ He sometimes eats fish as a supplement to his vegetarian diet.
▪ The current supplement to the encyclopedia ‘Growing Up with Science’ has a new section on cycles in nature.
▷ extra /ˈekstrə/ [countable noun]
something which is added to a basic product or service which improves it and also costs more :
▪ A wide range of extras are also available.
optional extra
British
▪ Tinted windows and a sunroof are optional extras.
▷ add-on /ˈæd ɒn/ [countable noun]
as a piece of equipment that can be added or connected to a computer, car etc to make it do more things or make it more useful :
▪ Add-ons such as modems and DVD drives can easily cost you hundreds of dollars.
▷ extension also addition American /ɪkˈstenʃ ə n, əˈdɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
another room or rooms that are added to a building :
▪ The Simpsons built a big addition onto the back of their house.
▪ You’ll find the Picasso collection in the extension to the museum.