plus

[ pluhs ]

preposition

1. more by the addition of; increased by:

   ten plus two is twelve.

2. with the addition of; with:

   He had wealth plus fame.

adjective

1. involving or noting addition.
2. positive:

   a plus quantity.

3. more (by a certain amount).
4. Electricity. pertaining to or characterized by positive electricity:

   the plus terminal.

5. Mycology. (in heterothallic fungi) designating, in the absence of morphological differentiation, one of the two strains of mycelia that unite in the sexual process.
6. having a certain quality to an unusual degree:

   He has personality plus.

noun

, plural plus·es, plus·ses.

1. a plus quantity.
2. Arithmetic. plus sign.
3. something additional.
4. a surplus or gain.

conjunction

1. Informal. also; and; furthermore:

   A bicycle is cheaper than a car, plus it doesn't pollute the air.

adverb

1. in addition; besides.

plus

/ plʌs /

preposition

1. increased by the addition of

   four plus two (written 4 + 2)

2. with or with the addition of

   a good job, plus a new car

adjective

1. Alsopositive prenominal indicating or involving addition

   a plus sign

2. another word for positive positive
3. on the positive part of a scale or coordinate axis

   a value of +x

4. indicating the positive side of an electrical circuit
5. involving positive advantage or good

   a plus factor

6. informal.
   postpositive having a value above that which is stated or expected

   she had charm plus

7. postpositive slightly above a specified standard on a particular grade or percentage

   he received a B+ rating on his essay

8. botany designating the strain of fungus that can only undergo sexual reproduction with a minus strain

noun

1. short for plus sign
2. a positive quantity
3. informal.
   something positive or to the good
4. a gain, surplus, or advantage

Usage Note

Since plus as a preposition has long had the meanings “more by the addition of ” and “with the addition of,” it was but a short step to a newer use, mainly in informal writing and speech, as a conjunction meaning “also, and, furthermore.” Although this use is increasing, many object to it, and it is rare in more formal writing. And plus is likewise objected to, especially for being redundant: The paper was delivered two hours late, and plus it was soaking wet.

Usage

Plus, together with, and along with do not create compound subjects in the way that and does: the number of the verb depends on that of the subject to which plus, together with, or along with is added: this task, plus all the others, was (not were ) undertaken by the government; the doctor, together with the nurses, was (not were ) waiting for the patient

Word History and Origins

Origin of plus¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin plūs “more”; akin to Greek pleíōn, Old Norse fleiri “more,” Old English feolu, fela, German viel, Gothic filu, Old Irish il, Greek polý “many”

Word History and Origins

Origin of plus¹

C17: from Latin: more; compare Greek pleiōn, Old Norse fleiri more, German viel much

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pluses and minuses, the good and bad points of something; the advantages and disadvantages; the pros and cons:

   She spent hours listing the pluses and minuses of each of the apartments she had looked at, trying to narrow down her choices.

Example Sentences

He often mentioned that not needing other oligarchs was a big plus, giving him independence.

From Slate

Eligible groups were offered two main doses as a minimum, plus a booster dose, with additional boosters for more vulnerable groups later on in the pandemic.

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Related Words

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