I. ˈa-də-tiv adjective
Date: 1699
1. : of, relating to, or characterized by addition
an additive process
2. : produced by addition
3. : characterized by, being, or producing effects (as drug responses or gene products) that when the causative factors act together are the sum of their individual effects
• ad·di·tive·ly adverb
• ad·di·tiv·i·ty ˌa-də-ˈti-və-tē noun
II. noun
Date: 1945
: a substance added to another in relatively small amounts to effect a desired change in properties
food additive s