supplement
supplement Lexical Profile
supplement Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A pill, capsule, powder, or liquid containing vitamins, minerals, or herbs taken to address nutritional deficiencies or support health.
"Her doctor recommended taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the winter months."
Something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole.
"The teacher provided online articles as a supplement to the standard history textbook."
A separate section, part, or special issue added to a newspaper, magazine, or book to provide further information.
"The Sunday newspaper includes a glossy travel supplement."
In geometry, an angle or arc that when added to a given angle or arc makes 180 degrees (a straight angle).
"Because the given angle measures 60 degrees, its supplement measures 120 degrees."
• verb
To add an extra element or amount to something in order to make it more complete, adequate, or effective.
"He tutors mathematics in the evenings to supplement his regular income."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'supplement' with 'complement': a 'supplement' is something added to remedy a deficiency or extend something already complete, whereas a 'complement' is something that brings another thing to perfection or goes well with it.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin 'supplementum' ('that which fills up'), from the verb 'supplere' ('to fill up or complete'), formed from 'sub-' ('up from below') and 'plere' ('to fill').