adder

adder — noun

1. a small viper found in Europe and northern Asia that carries venom and can bite

1.名詞B2
釋義

a small viper found in Europe and northern Asia that carries venom and can bite in self-defence; in Britain, it is the only snake native to the country that can inject venom.

例句

Indra spotted an adder warming itself on a flat rock by the path.

wildlife encounter: adder warming itself on a rock

Park workers warned hikers that adders sometimes hide in long grass.

同義詞
  • viper

    broader family term; an adder is one kind of viper, not the whole group

  • common viper

    formal wildlife name for the same European species

文法句型

an/the + adder

用法筆記

Usually refers to the European adder, especially in British writing about wildlife. People often mention its dark zigzag back markings when they are trying to identify it outdoors.

常見錯誤

❌Every adder in Britain attacks people.
✅Adders usually avoid people and bite mainly when disturbed.
💡The snake is venomous, but it does not normally chase or hunt humans.

adder — noun

1. a machine or computer part that adds numbers together to produce a total.

1.名詞C1
釋義

a machine or computer part that adds numbers together to produce a total.

例句

The old shop kept a hand-cranked adder beside the cash drawer.

older office machine: hand-cranked adder

This tiny adder on the chip can combine two numbers at once.

computing use: adder on a chip

同義詞
  • adding machine

    older term for a device used to do addition, especially in shops or offices

  • calculator

    more common and broader; a calculator usually does more than addition

文法句型

an/the + adder

adder + for + numbers

用法筆記

Most often appears in technical contexts, especially older office equipment and computer hardware. In everyday English, people are more likely to say 'calculator' or use a more specific hardware term.

常見錯誤

❌My phone is just an adder.
✅My phone has an adder inside it, but it does much more than add numbers.
💡An adder only performs addition, while a phone or full calculator has many other functions.

2. someone who adds numbers, especially quickly or accurately.

2.名詞C2
釋義

someone who adds numbers, especially quickly or accurately.

例句

In the maths relay, Sophia was the quickest adder on her team.

person noun: quickest adder on a team

The teacher asked the best adder in each pair to check the final sum.

同義詞
  • calculator

    when used of a person, this means someone who works things out carefully, not only someone who does addition

  • mental-maths star

    informal phrase for a person who adds and calculates very quickly

文法句型

an + adder

adder of + numbers

用法筆記

This personal sense is rare and usually appears in teaching or contest contexts. Outside those settings, speakers normally say 'someone who is good at maths' or describe the person's speed directly.

常見錯誤

❌She is an adder because she studies maths.
✅She is a strong adder because she can add long columns quickly.
💡The word describes someone actually doing addition well, not simply anyone who learns mathematics.