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additive
Adam, Rob-ert /'rɒbət||'rɑ:bərt/ (1728-92) a Scottish ARCHI-
TECT who designed many famous houses and other build-
ings, and influenced the development of the NEOCLASSICAL
style. He is also known for designing furniture.
ad-a-mant /'ædəmənt/ adj fml (of a person or behaviour) firm
and immovable in purpose: I tried to talk her out of it, but
she was adamant. | [+that] He was (completely) adamant that
they should go. —ly adv
Ad-ams, An-sel /'ædəmz, 'ænsəl/ (1902-84) a US photo-
grapher known especially for his photographs of the coun-
tryside in the west of the US
Adams, Ger-ry /'dʒɛri/ (1948-) the leader of Sinn Fein, the
Irish political party that wants Northern Ireland to unite
with the Republic of Ireland. For many years the British
government did not allow Adams to travel to England,
Scotland, or Wales because of his connections with the IRA.
In the late 1990s, however, he took part in meetings with
the British government and with other political parties in
Northern Ireland, to discuss ways of bringing peace to the
area. Adams has been the MP for West Belfast since 1983,
but has never taken his seat in Westminster because he does
not recognized the authority of the British government. He
also had a seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly until the
ASSEMBLY was SUSPENDED.
Adams, John (1735-1826) the second President of the US,
from 1797 to 1801. Before the AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY
WAR he encouraged people in the American colonies
(COLONY) to protest against British taxes and to fight to
become independent from Britain.
Adams, John Quin-cy /dʒɒn 'kwɪnsi||dʒɑ:n-/ (1767-1848)
the sixth President of the US from 1825 to 1829. He was the
son of John Adams, and he is believed to have written the
MONROE DOCTRINE.
Adams, Sam-u-el /'sæmjuəl/ (1722-1803) a US politician
and writer who protested against British taxes and law when
the UK was still in control of the American colonies
(COLONY). In the 1760s and 1770s he encouraged people
there to fight to become independent, and he was the main
organizer of the BOSTON TEA PARTY.
Adam's 'ale n [U] an old-fashioned humorous name for
water, because ADAM, the first man, would only have had
water to drink
Adam's 'apple /||'... ,../ n the front part of the throat which
sticks out, especially on a man, and which moves up and
down when he speaks or swallows
Adam Smith Institute a RIGHT-WING British organization
that develops ideas about economics and gives advice to
businesses and politicians. It has close connections with the
British Conservative Party, and had great influence on its
policies during the 1980s, especially the policy of PRIVATIZA-
TION (=selling public services like electricity and railways, so
that they become private companies). It is named after Adam
SMITH, an 18th-century Scottish writer on economics.
a-dapt /ə'dæpt/ v [I;T(to, for)] to make or become suitable for
new needs or different conditions: He adapted an old car
engine to fit his boat. | When we moved to France, the children
adapted (to the change) very well. | I'm afraid he can't adapt to
the idea of having a woman as his boss. → compare ADJUST
a-dapt-a-ble /ə'dæptəbəl/ adj often apprec able to change so as
to be suitable for new needs or different conditions: I'm sure
she'll cope with the changes very well; she's very adaptable.
—bility /,ædæptə'bɪləti/ n [U]
ad-ap-ta-tion /,ædæp'teɪʃən/ n [C;U] the act or an example
of adapting: an adaptation of her play for radio
a-dapt-er, -or /ə'dæptər/ n 1 a person or thing that
adapts 2 a PLUG that makes it possible to use more than one
piece of electrical equipment from a single SOCKET (=electrici-
ty supply point)
ADC /,eɪ di: 'si:/ abbrev. for AIDE-DE-CAMP
add /æd/ v 1 [T(to)] to put together with something else so as
to increase the number, size, or importance: Add a few more
names to the list. | Mix the flour and butter together, then add
the sugar. | Would you like to add anything to what I've said,
John? | The decision to buy this weapon will add at least £5
billion to the defence budget. → see also ADDED 2 [I;T(to,
TOGETHER, UP)] to join (numbers, or amounts) so as to find the
total: If you add 5 and/to 3 you get 8. | Add up these figures for
me, please. → compare SUBTRACT 3 [T+that;obj] to say also:
Almost as an afterthought, he added that they were very
pleased with the result. 4 add fuel to the fire infml to make a
difficult situation even worse, especially by making some-
one feel more strongly about something: Her tactless
remarks just added fuel to the fire. 5 add insult to injury to
make matters even worse, especially by causing annoyance
as well as harm
add to sthg. phr v [T] to increase: The rise in electricity costs
has added to our difficulties. → compare DETRACT FROM
add up phr v [I not in progressive forms] infml to make sense; form
a likely or believable explanation: The facts just don't add up.
add up to phr v [T not in progressive forms] to amount to: With a
meal included in the cost of the ticket, it all adds up to a really
good evening's entertainment.
ADD /,eɪ di: 'di:/ n [U] med abbrev. for ATTENTION DEFICIT
DISORDER
Ad-dams Fam-i-ly, the /'ædəmz ˌfæməli/ trademark an
imaginary family who originally appeared in a US CARTOON
STRIP and then in a humorous television programme and in
films. They are a strange family who wear unusual black
clothes, are very interested in death and frightening things,
and think that they are normal even though they seem very
strange to everyone else
ad-ded /'ædɪd/ adj [A] existing in addition to what is usual or
expected; further: The new system is not only cheaper, but has
the added advantage of being much faster than the old one.
,added 'value n [U] 1 the amount by which the value of the
product is increased at each stage of its making 2 things
added to a basic article during the making which increase its
value
ad-den-dum /ə'dendəm/ n pl. -da /-də/ tech something that is
added or is to be added, as at the end of a speech or book
ad-der /'ædə/ n 1 a small poisonous snake of northern
Europe and northern Asia 2 any of several non-poisonous
North American snakes
ad-dict /'ædɪkt/ n a person who is unable to free themselves
from a harmful habit, especially of taking drugs: a heroin
addict | (fig.) At the age of 10, he's already a confirmed
television addict.
ad-dic-ted /ə'dɪktɪd/ adj [F(to)] dependent on something,
especially a drug; unable to stop having or taking: It doesn't
take long to become addicted to these drugs. | (fig.) My children
are hopelessly/absolutely addicted to television.
ad-dic-tion /ə'dɪkʃən/ n [C;U] the state of being addicted or
a habit to which one is addicted: the growing problem of
heroin addiction among young people
ad-dic-tive /ə'dɪktɪv/ adj (especially of drugs) causing addic-
tion; habit-forming → opposite NON-ADDICTIVE
Ad-dis Ab-a-ba /,ædɪs 'æbəbə/ the capital city of Ethiopia
Ad-di-son, Joseph /'ædɪsən/ (1672-1719) an English writer,
best known for the ESSAYS he wrote in The Tatler and The
Spectator
ad-di-tion /ə'dɪʃən/ n 1 [U] the act of adding, especially of
adding numbers together → compare SUBTRACTION 2 [C(to)]
something added: Additions are made to the list from time to
time. | Congratulations! I hear there's to be an addition to the
family! (=a new baby) | a last-minute addition to the pro-
gramme for the President's visit 3 AmE a room or part of a
building which is added to the main building: We must get a
new carpet for the addition. 4 in addition (to) as well (as);
besides: In addition to giving a general introduction to com-
puters, the course also provides practical experience.
ad-di-tion-al /ə'dɪʃənəl/ adj beyond what is usual; added:
An additional charge is made for heavy bags. | one of the
additional requirements | additional evidence —ly adv
ad-di-tive /'ædɪtɪv/ n a chemical substance that is added to
food in small quantities in order to improve its colour or
taste, or to make it last longer: additive-free foods → see also
FOOD ADDITIVE, PRESERVATIVE
CULTURAL NOTE Laws in the UK and the US allow only
additives that are considered safe to be put in foods. In
the UK, additives are given an E NUMBER and these are
listed on the food's package. In the US, the chemical
names are listed on the package.