auxiliary

adjective
UK: /ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/
US: /ɔːɡˈzɪləri/

  1. Providing supplementary or additional help and support.

    1. The auxiliary nurse helped the doctor today. [ ] [ ]
    2. Auxiliary power sources are vital for the hospital in case of a blackout. [ ] [ ]

  2. Used to describe equipment or systems that provide extra help or support to a main system.

    1. We use an auxiliary generator in emergencies here. [ ] [ ]
    2. This ship has an auxiliary engine to improve maneuverability in tight spaces. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

helping secondary backup subsidiary supplementary assistant
auxiliary noun

  1. A person or thing providing supplementary or additional help and support.

    1. She joined the fire department auxiliary. [ ] [ ]
    2. The ship's auxiliary was ready for deployment at a moment's notice. [ ] [ ]

  2. A helper; an organization that gives help.

    1. The hospital relies on its auxiliary volunteers. [ ] [ ]
    2. Our town benefits greatly from the police auxiliary during town events. [ ] [ ]
auxiliary verb

  1. An auxiliary verb, such as 'be', 'have', 'do', 'will', 'shall', 'can', 'may', and 'must', used to form tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs.

    1. Is' is an auxiliary verb in the sentence 'He is running'. [ ] [ ]
    2. In the question 'Did you go?', 'did' acts as an auxiliary to 'go'. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "auxiliary" in English means: Providing supplementary or additional help and support., Used to describe equipment or systems that provide extra help or support to a main system..

The phonetic transcription of "auxiliary" is /ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/ in British English and /ɔːɡˈzɪləri/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "auxiliary": helping, secondary, backup, subsidiary, supplementary, assistant.

Example usage of "auxiliary": "The auxiliary nurse helped the doctor today.". More examples on the page.