connective

American  

[kuh-nek-tiv] / kəˈnɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. serving or tending to connect.

   connective remarks between chapters.

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noun

1. something that connects.

2. Grammar.  a word used to connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences, as a conjunction.

3. Botany.  the tissue joining the two cells of the anther.

connective British  

/ ˌkɒnɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ, kəˈnɛktɪv /

adjective

1. serving to connect or capable of connecting

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noun

1. a thing that connects

2. grammar logic

   1. a less common word for conjunction

   2. any word that connects phrases, clauses, or individual words

   3. a symbol used in a formal language in the construction of compound sentences from simpler sentences, corresponding to terms such as or, and, not, etc, in ordinary speech

3. botany the tissue of a stamen that connects the two lobes of the anther

4. anatomy a nerve-fibre bundle connecting two nerve centres

Other Word Forms

• connectively adverb
• connectivity noun
• nonconnective adjective
• nonconnectively adverb
• nonconnectivity noun
• preconnective adjective
• quasi-connective adjective
• quasi-connectively adverb

Etymology

Origin of connective

First recorded in 1645–55; connect + -ive

Example Sentences

The band, the venue’s team and the audience share an undesirable connective tissue.

From Los Angeles Times

Now we know that when we separate them, we aren’t just shifting where work happens, we’re weakening the relationships and connective tissue that hold teams and organizations together.

From The Wall Street Journal

In Finley’s mind, this work is the connective tissue between so many different types of lineages, both artistic and familial.

From Los Angeles Times

And in a time when the country feels more fragmented than ever, Wareheim sees it as a kind of connective tissue.

From Los Angeles Times

And there was another connective piece I’m missing.

From Los Angeles Times