| 1. | something that is added, as one substance to another, to alter or improve the general quality or to counteract undesirable properties: an additive that thins paint. |
| 2. | Nutrition.
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| 3. | characterized or produced by addition; cumulative: an additive process. |
| 4. | Mathematics. (of a function) having the property that the function of the union or sum of two quantities is equal to the sum of the functional values of each quantity; linear. |
additive ad·di·tive (ād'ĭ-tĭv)
n.
A substance added in small amounts to something else to improve, strengthen, or otherwise alter it.
| additive (ād'ĭ-tĭv) Pronunciation Key
Noun A substance added in small amounts to something else to improve, strengthen, or otherwise alter it. Additives are used for a variety of reasons. They are added to food, for example, to enhance taste or color or to prevent spoilage. They are added to gasoline to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, and to plastics to enhance molding capability. Adjective
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