Word
appendage
Phoneticsap·pendage
US/əˈpɛndɪdʒ/
UK/ɐpˈɛndɪdʒ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a part of a body that is attached to the main part, like an arm or a leg. It can also mean something extra that is added to a main object, like a small room or a note at the end of a book.
n. a part of an organism that is attached to the body but is not part of the main trunk; also, a supplementary part or feature added to a primary object. Often used in biological contexts to describe limbs or in technical contexts to describe supplementary structures.
Examples
“The insect has several long appendages for moving.”
“The architect designed a small glass appendage to the main house to serve as a sunroom.”
“While the primary structure of the molecule is stable, the presence of a reactive appendage allows it to bind more effectively to the target protein during the chemical reaction.”
Examples
simple
“The insect has several long appendages for moving.”
contextual
“The architect designed a small glass appendage to the main house to serve as a sunroom.”
complex
“While the primary structure of the molecule is stable, the presence of a reactive appendage allows it to bind more effectively to the target protein during the chemical reaction.”
Real-World Examples
“Most importantly, the researchers identified two pincer-like appendages positioned just behind the creature's eyes.” “Most strikingly, however, segments 1–9 of the abdomen bore segmented appendages, with the posterior abdominal limbs modified into paddle-like structures.” “Segments 1 through 9 carried segmented appendages, and the rear abdominal limbs had been modified into paddle-like structures.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- Proto-Indo-European *(s)péndeti Proto-Italic *pendō Latin pendō Latin appendō Old French apendrebor. Middle English appenden English append Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin -icus Latin -āticus Latin -āticum Old French -agebor. Middle English -age English -age English appendage From append + -age.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/appendage