MODIFIER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does modifier mean? 

• MODIFIER (noun)
  The noun MODIFIER has 4 senses:

1. a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb

2. a moderator who makes less extreme or uncompromising

3. a person who changes something

4. a gene that modifies the effect produced by another gene

  Familiarity information: MODIFIER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MODIFIER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

modifier; qualifier

Hypernyms ("modifier" is a kind of...):

content word; open-class word (a word to which an independent meaning can be assigned)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "modifier"):

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

adjective (a word that expresses an attribute of something)

adverb (a word that modifies something other than a noun)

dangling modifier; misplaced modifier (a word or phrase apparently modifying an unintended word because of its placement in a sentence: e.g., 'when young' in 'when young, circuses appeal to all of us')

Holonyms ("modifier" is a part of...):

phrase (an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence)

Derivation:

modify (add a modifier to a constituent)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A moderator who makes less extreme or uncompromising

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("modifier" is a kind of...):

moderator (someone who mediates disputes and attempts to avoid violence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A person who changes something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

changer; modifier

Context example:

an inveterate changer of the menu

Hypernyms ("modifier" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "modifier"):

adulterator (a changer who lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)

normaliser; normalizer (a person who normalizes)

standardiser; standardizer (a person who sets a standard for things to conform to)

Derivation:

modify (make less severe or harsh or extreme)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A gene that modifies the effect produced by another gene

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

modifier; modifier gene

Hypernyms ("modifier" is a kind of...):

cistron; factor; gene ((genetics) a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons; it is considered a unit of heredity)

 Context examples 

IL-1-alpha made in the laboratory is used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system in cancer therapy.

(IL-1-alpha, NCI Dictionary)

IL-1-beta made in the laboratory is used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system in cancer therapy.

(IL-1-beta, NCI Dictionary)

IL-10 made in the laboratory is used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system.

(IL-10, NCI Dictionary)

IL-1-alfa made in the laboratory is used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system in cancer therapy.

(IL-1-alfa, NCI Dictionary)

IL-1 made in the laboratory is used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system in cancer therapy.

(IL-1, NCI Dictionary)

It is a type of cytokine and a type of biological response modifier.

(IFN alpha-2B, NCI Dictionary)

ILs made in the laboratory are used as biological response modifiers to boost the immune system in cancer therapy.

(IL, NCI Dictionary)

Oprelvekin (IL-11 made in the laboratory) is used as a biological response modifier to increase the number of platelets, especially in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

(IL-11, NCI Dictionary)

IL-12 made in the laboratory is used as a biological response modifier to boost the immune system in cancer therapy.

(IL-12, NCI Dictionary)

An OGF is a type of biological response modifier and a type of antiangiogenesis agent.

(OGF, NCI Dictionary)