incidental
/,insi'dentl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The discovery of the ancient coin was incidental to the main archaeological dig.
Definition
Adjective:
- Happening by chance or as a minor accompaniment; not essential or central: Describes something that occurs in connection with something else but is not the main focus or a planned part of it.
- Occurring as a minor consequence or side effect: Refers to something that happens as a secondary result of a primary action or event.
Noun:
- A minor or secondary item, detail, or expense: An item, often a cost, that is not part of the main budget or plan but occurs in connection with it.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The report covers the main findings and some incidental observations.
- We must budget for travel and incidental costs like meals.
- The stress was incidental to the job's high demands.
Noun:
- The grant covers tuition but not incidentals like books and supplies.
- Keep receipts for all incidentals during the business trip.
Advanced Usage
- "Incidental to": This phrase is commonly used to show that something is a minor, secondary, or chance accompaniment of something else.
- The noise was incidental to the construction process and could not be avoided.
- Any profits incidental to the main charity event will be donated.
Variants and Related Words
- Incidentally (adverb): Used to introduce a point that is related but less important, or to describe something happening by chance.
- The software is easy to use and, incidentally, very affordable.
- Incidence (noun): The occurrence, rate, or frequency of something (especially something undesirable).
- The study tracked the incidence of the disease.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Accompanying, ancillary, secondary, subsidiary, contingent, chance, casual, nonessential.
- Noun: Sundry, extra, miscellaneous item.
Antonyms
- Adjective: Essential, fundamental, central, primary, intentional, planned.
- Noun: Essential, necessity, major expense.
Related Phrases
- Incidental music: Music used in a film, play, or other production to create atmosphere or accompany action. It is secondary to the main dialogue or plot.
- The composer wrote the incidental music for the television series.
- Incidental finding: In medicine, an unexpected discovery made while diagnosing or treating something else.
- The scan revealed an incidental finding of a small, benign cyst.
The discovery of the ancient coin was incidental to the main archaeological dig.
Adjective
- following or accompanying as a consequence
- an excessive growth of bureaucracy, with attendant problems
- snags incidental to the changeover in management
- attendant circumstances
- the period of tension and consequent need for military preparedness
- the ensuant response to his appeal
- the resultant savings were considerable
- not of prime or central importance
- nonessential to the integral meanings of poetry- Pubs.MLA
- (sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence
- incidental expenses
- the road will bring other incidental advantages
- extra duties incidental to the job
- labor problems incidental to a rapid expansion
- confusion incidental to a quick change
Noun
- an item that is incidental
- (frequently plural) an expense not budgeted or not specified
- he requested reimbursement of $7 for incidental expenses