supplement

[ noun suhp-luh-muhnt; verb suhp-luh-ment ]

/ noun ˈsʌp lə mənt; verb ˈsʌp ləˌmɛnt /

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See synonyms for: supplement / supplemented / supplementing / supplements on Thesaurus.com

noun

something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole.

a part added to a book, document, etc., to supply additional or later information, correct errors, or the like.

a part, usually of special character, issued as an additional feature of a newspaper or other periodical.

Geometry. the quantity by which an angle or an arc falls short of 180° or a semicircle.

verb (used with object)

to complete, add to, or extend by a supplement.

to form a supplement or addition to.

to supply (a deficiency).

SYNONYMS FOR supplement

2 addendum, epilogue, postscript.

See synonyms for supplement on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of supplement

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin supplēmentum “that by which anything is made full,” equivalent to sup-sup- + plē- (stem of plēre “to fill”; see full¹) + -mentum-ment

synonym study for supplement

2. See appendix. 5. See complement.

OTHER WORDS FROM supplement

sup·ple·ment·er, nounun·sup·ple·ment·ed, adjectivewell-sup·ple·ment·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH supplement

1. appendix, index, supplement (see synonym study at appendix)2. complement, supplement (see synonym study at complement)

Words nearby supplement

supplant, supplanter, supple, supplejack, supplely, supplement, supplemental, supplemental air, supplemental plumage, Supplemental Security Income, supplementary

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for supplement

People starting on a health journey often turn to supplements, probably because we like buying things more than we like doing hard physical work.
BCAA supplements can enhance your workout, but should you take them?|Amy Schellenbaum|September 10, 2020|Popular Science
Vegans who want to build significant muscle, however, may benefit from a leucine supplement, because plant-based proteins are generally lower in this amino acid than their animal-based counterparts.
BCAA supplements can enhance your workout, but should you take them?|Amy Schellenbaum|September 10, 2020|Popular Science
Digital contact tracing is a supplement to traditional manual contact tracing.
Apple and Google expand digital coronavirus contact-tracing tools to help speed adoption|dzanemorris|September 1, 2020|Fortune
Today, scientists around the world are using cutting-edge technologies, from subcutaneous biosensors to specialized food supplements, in an effort to improve safety and efficiency within the $385 billion global cattle meat industry.
Biotechnology Could Change the Cattle Industry. Will It Succeed?|Dyllan Furness|August 16, 2020|Singularity Hub

Others noted that while the extra payment made sense as a short-term stimulus measure, economists might approach the long-term consequences of such a generous supplement differently.
Economists Think Congress Should Keep Paying Unemployed Workers $600 A Week — Or Even More|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|July 21, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The flowers and leaves of this herb are used to make medications and the supplement is popularly used for depression.
Fish Oil, Turmeric, and Ginseng, Oh My! Are ‘Brain Foods’ B.S.?|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This dietary supplement originates in China and has been reported to enhance cognitive ability in healthy individuals.
Fish Oil, Turmeric, and Ginseng, Oh My! Are ‘Brain Foods’ B.S.?|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Williams was trying to promote Anatabloc, a dietary supplement developed by his company.
The Five Weirdest Revelations From the McDonnell Trial|Ben Jacobs|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was grateful I could supplement my voracious reading with other media, as it kept me feeling current.
Prisoners Get Cultural Fix with 8-Tracks and Bootleg Cassettes|Daniel Genis|August 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Annunziato and Akerman are in agreement that CrowdMed is best deployed as a supplement, not a substitute.
Strangers Diagnose Your Illness and Get Cash in Return|Kevin Zawacki|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He prepared a glossary of provincial and archological words, intended for a supplement to Johnson's Dictionary.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
It came to be used as a supplement to the law to indicate ways of doing things unknown to the law, which ought to be done.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
Our valley does not number among its men many who can supplement their sentimental attentions with gifts of books.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
A few further remarks on this and other important topics will well supplement what we have said.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
He also wrote a supplement of three volumes, entitled "Lee's Lieutenants," which was exceptionally well received.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey

British Dictionary definitions for supplement

supplement

noun (ˈsʌplɪmənt)

an addition designed to complete, make up for a deficiency, etc

a section appended to a publication to supply further information, correct errors, etc

a magazine or section inserted into a newspaper or periodical, such as one with colour photographs issued every week

geometry

either of a pair of angles whose sum is 180°
an arc of a circle that when added to another arc forms a semicircleAbbreviation: sup, supp

verb (ˈsʌplɪˌmɛnt)

(tr) to provide a supplement to, esp in order to remedy a deficiency

Derived forms of supplement

supplementation, nounsupplementer, noun

Word Origin for supplement

C14: from Latin supplēmentum, from supplēre to supply 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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