1.supplement的基本意思是“增补”,指对已很完整的事物作增补,以使其进一步改进、丰富、提高。尽管所增加的东西对原事物的完全或完整并不是非有不可的,也不一定是相互依存的。
2.supplement用作及物动词,接名词或代词作宾语,宾语后常接with或by; 与with连用,强调“补充的东西”; 与by连用,强调“补充的方法”。

supplement by(v.+prep.)
(通过…)增补,补充 add to sth by (sth)
▲supplement sth by sth/v-ing
He supplements his ordinary income by writing books.他以编写书籍来增加日常的收入。
She supplements her regular income by doing a bit of teaching in the evenings.她靠晚上兼些课来增补固定收入。
He supplements his regular meals by eating between meals.他在两餐之间又补充吃点东西。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。

supplement with(v.+prep.)
用…增补,补充 add to sth with (sth)
▲supplement sth with sth
She supplements her diet with eggs and fruit.她以鸡蛋和水果来补充她的饮食。
Farmers supplement natural fertilizer with chemical fertilizer.农民用化肥补充天然肥料。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
They had to get a job to supplement the family income.他们不得不找一份工作以贴补家庭收入。

supplement, complement
这组词都有“补充”的意思。其区别是:supplement指对已很完整的事物作增补,以使其进一步改进、丰富、提高。尽管所增加的东西对原事物的完全或完整并不是非有不可的,也不一定是相互依存的; 而complement则含有“使…完全〔完整〕”的意思,意味着它作为补充的东西是必不可少的,加上它才使被补充的东西更完备,更完美。

supplement还可用作可数名词,意为“补遗,补编”,此时其读音为［'sʌplɪmənt］。例如:
A supplement to this dictionary may be published next year.该词典的补编可能将于明年出版。

［同义词］   add to, extend, increase
［词源］＜拉丁语supplementum(补遗,增刊)