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¹plus

adjective \ˈpləs\

: having a value that is above zero

—used after a number to indicate a range greater than that number

Full Definition of PLUS

: algebraically positive

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

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

: electrically positive

: 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)

See plus defined for English-language learners

See plus defined for kids

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

: something that is useful or helpful

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

Full Definition of PLUS

: plus sign

: an added quantity

: a positive factor or quality

: surplus

See plus defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of PLUS

1654

Related to PLUS

Synonyms: accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increment, [+]more [-]hide, 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

³plus

preposition

—used to indicate that one number or amount is being added to another

: and also : as well as

Full Definition of PLUS

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

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

See plus defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of PLUS

1668

⁴plus

conjunction

: in addition

Full Definition of PLUS

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

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

See plus defined for English-language learners

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.

First Known Use of PLUS

circa 1950

PLUS Defined for Kids

¹plus

adjective \ˈpləs\

Definition of PLUS for Kids

: falling high in a certain range <He got a grade of B plus.>

²plus

preposition

Definition of PLUS for Kids

: increased by : with the addition of <4 plus 5 equals 9.> <You can come, plus your friends.>

Medical Dictionary

plus

adjective \ˈpləs\

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