I. aux ‧ il ‧ ia ‧ ry 1 /ɔːɡˈzɪljəri, ɔːk- $ ɒːɡˈzɪljəri, -ˈzɪl ə ri/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: auxiliaris , from auxilium 'help' ]
1 . auxiliary workers provide additional help for another group of workers:
an auxiliary nurse
auxiliary staff
2 . an auxiliary motor, piece of equipment etc is kept ready to be used if the main one stops working properly:
an auxiliary power supply
auxiliary equipment
II. auxiliary 2 BrE AmE noun ( plural auxiliaries ) [countable]
1 . a worker who provides additional help for another group of workers:
a nursing auxiliary
2 . an auxiliary verb:
a modal auxiliary