auxiliary

Auxiliary is defined as something or someone used in a supporting role or used in reserve.

(adjective)

An example of an auxiliary generator is one that gives power to a building when the main generators stop working.

See auxiliary in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

giving help or aid; assisting or supporting
acting in a subsidiary, or subordinate, capacity
additional; supplementary; reserve
having an engine that can be used for supplementary power, as a sailing vessel
designating or of any of the noncombat ships, as tankers or tenders, that form the service fleet of a navy

Origin: L auxiliaris, helpful < auxilium, aid < pp. of augere, to increase: see wax

an auxiliary person or thing
foreign or allied armed forces aiding those of a country at war
an assisting or supplementary group or organization: this club has a women's auxiliary
an auxiliary vessel or ship
Gram. auxiliary verb

See auxiliary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Giving assistance or support; helping.
Acting as a subsidiary; supplementary: the main library and its auxiliary branches.
Held in or used as a reserve: auxiliary troops; an auxiliary power generator.
Nautical Equipped with a motor as well as sails.
Grammar Of, relating to, or being an auxiliary verb.

noun pl. aux·il·ia·ries

An individual or group that assists or functions in a supporting capacity: a volunteers' auxiliary at a hospital.
A member of a foreign body of troops serving a country in war.
Grammar An auxiliary verb.
Nautical
a. A sailing vessel equipped with a motor.
b. A vessel, such as a supply ship or a tug, that is designed for and used in instances and services other than combat.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Latin auxiliārius

Origin: , from auxilium, help; see aug- in Indo-European roots

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