plus

¹plus

adjective \ˈpləs\

Definition of PLUS

1

: algebraically positive

2

: having, receiving, or being in addition to what is anticipated

3

a : falling high in a specified range <a grade of C plus>

b : greater than that specified

c : possessing a specified quality to a high degree

4

: electrically positive

5

: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plantlike organisms (as a fungus)

Origin of PLUS

Latin, adverb, more, from neuter of plur-, plus, adjective; akin to Greek pleion more, Latin plenus full — more at full

First Known Use: 1579

Rhymes with PLUS

bus, buss, crus, cuss, fuss, muss, pus, Russ, suss, thus, truss, us

²plus

noun

plural plus·es \ˈplə-səz\ also plus·ses

Definition of PLUS

1

: plus sign

2

: an added quantity

3

: a positive factor or quality

4

: surplus

Examples of PLUS

1. The apartment isn't perfect, but the fact that it has new appliances is a plus.
2. The job doesn't pay well, but the convenient hours are a definite plus.

First Known Use of PLUS

1654

Related to PLUS

Synonyms

accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increment, more, increase, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick

Antonyms

abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Related Words

accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering; complement; accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn; jump, run-up, spike

Near Antonyms

deduction, subtraction

³plus

preposition

Definition of PLUS

1

: increased by : with the addition of <four plus five> <principal plus interest>

2

: besides —used chiefly in speech and casual writing <plus all this, as a sedative it has no equal — Groucho Marx>

Examples of PLUS

1. The hotel has two restaurants, plus a bar and a swimming pool.

First Known Use of PLUS

1668

⁴plus

conjunction

Definition of PLUS

1

: and <eats alone, a hot beef sandwich plus a BLT plus apple pie — Garrison Keillor>

2

: in addition to which <it's also pretty on my open shelves, plus it smells good — Nikki Giovanni>

Usage Discussion of PLUS

The preposition plus has long been used with a meaning equivalent to and (as in “two plus two”); people have come to use plus as a conjunction much like and. Sense 2 is considered to be an adverb by some. It is used chiefly in speech and in informal writing.

Examples of PLUS

1. He works a full-time job during the day, plus he goes to school at night.
2. I enjoy gardening, plus it's good exercise.

First Known Use of PLUS

circa 1950

plus

adjective \ˈpləs\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PLUS

: relating to or being a particular one of the two mating types that are required for successful fertilization in sexual reproduction in some lower plants (as a fungus)—compare minus