additional; supplementary; reserve: an auxiliary police force.
used as a substitute or reserve in case of need: The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of a blackout.
(of a boat) having an engine that can be used to supplement the sails: an auxiliary yawl.
giving support; serving as an aid; helpful: The mind and emotions are auxiliary to each other. Passion is auxiliary to art.
noun,pluralaux·il·ia·ries.
a person or thing that gives aid of any kind; helper.
an organization allied with, but subsidiary to, a main body of restricted membership, especially one composed of members' relatives: The men's club and the ladies' auxiliary were merged into one organization.
auxiliary verb.
auxiliaries,foreign troops in the service of a nation at war.
Navy. a naval vessel designed for other than combat purposes, as a tug, supply ship, or transport.
Nautical. a sailing vessel carrying an auxiliary propulsion engine or engines.
Origin of auxiliary
1595–1605; <Latin auxiliārius assisting, aiding, helping, equivalent to auxili(um) aid, help (aux(us) increased, augmented (past participle of augēre: aug- increase + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix) + -ilium noun suffix) + -ārius-ary
SYNONYMS FOR auxiliary
2 backup, ancillary, secondary.
5 aide, ally, assistant; help.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR auxiliary ON THESAURUS.COM
Words nearby auxiliary
Aux Cayes, Auxerre, auxesis, auxetic, auxiliaries, auxiliary, auxiliary language, auxiliary note, auxiliary power unit, auxiliary rafter, auxiliary rotor
For the Great American Beer Festival, which regularly draws 60,000 people to Denver, organizers pivoted to a virtual event this year after their usual home was designated an auxiliary field hospital.
How major conventions like SXSW and CES are working around the extended pandemic timeline|Chris Morris|October 10, 2020|Fortune
The former auxiliaries are now fully fleshed-out character brands and the marketing cornerstones of billion-dollar franchises.
For Aspiring Performers, The NBA Is The Best Place To Be A Mascot|Josh Planos|July 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Context has always been an auxiliary marketing tool – creating demand, brand, remarketing.
Marketing strategies during COVID-19 times|Evelina Brown|July 13, 2020|Search Engine Watch
We retooled music, which sounds sort of small and auxiliary, but I think we figured out a way to help the audience.
‘Michael J. Fox Show’ Creator: We’re Not Canceled…Yet|Kevin Fallon|February 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
None of this will be easily accomplished, and America has only an auxiliary role.
How the U.S. Will Lose Egypt|Geoffrey Wawro|January 31, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Meanwhile, turning by narrow degrees, the spinstress approaches the auxiliary chords that have just served as her support.
The Life of the Spider|J. Henri Fabre
The talking machine is placed on the auxiliary base as shown in Fig. 3.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
Auxiliary air ports were provided in the cylinder walls so that the pistons overran them at the end of their stroke.
A History of Aeronautics|E. Charles Vivian
Auxiliary derived from the idea of future destination, dependent upon the volition of the agent—will.
A Handbook of the English Language|Robert Gordon Latham
Far away on the deck of the Chihuahua the quick-fire racket of Jones's auxiliary was amazingly audible.
Quick Action|Robert W. Chambers
British Dictionary definitions for auxiliary
auxiliary
/ (ɔːɡˈzɪljərɪ, -ˈzɪlə-) /
adjective
secondary or supplementary
supporting
nautical(of a sailing vessel) having an enginean auxiliary sloop
nounplural-ries
a person or thing that supports or supplements; subordinate or assistant
nautical
a sailing vessel with an engine
the engine of such a vessel
navya vessel such as a tug, hospital ship, etc, not used for combat
Word Origin for auxiliary
C17: from Latin auxiliārius bringing aid, from auxilium help, from augēre to increase, enlarge, strengthen