Dictionary

ad lib en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈæd ˈlɪb/
• /æd ˈlɪb/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Abbreviation of ad libitum, borrowed from New Latin ad libitum.

Meanings

1. Extemporaneous, impromptu.
   • We were shocked to learn that the entire show was an ad lib performance. How did they weave it together so expertly on the fly?
2. (of feed or food access for livestock or humans) That provides as much as each one desires, to each one's fill, without restriction.
   • ad lib access
   • ad lib feed
   • The patients in the control group had ad lib access to snacks and were given no extra dietary advice.
   • All hens in the laying house have ad lib access to feed.
   • ad lib feeder

Forms

Translations (4)

de unvorbereitet (extemporaneous) · pt improvisado (extemporaneous) · es improvisado (extemporaneous) · de improvisiert (extemporaneous)

ad lib en · ADV

Pronunciation

• /ˈæd ˈlɪb/
• /æd ˈlɪb/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Abbreviation of ad libitum, borrowed from New Latin ad libitum.

Meanings

1. At pleasure.
2. At will.
3. As much as desired, to one's fill, without restriction.
   • For one thing I had a splendid supper when I got on board—a whack of cold, lean beef and pighells, bread, butter ad lib., tea, and plenty of good bread. 1951, Katherine Mansfield, Letters to John Middleton Murry, 1913-1922:
4. Extemporaneously.

Forms

Deriveds

Mad Lib · ad-libber

Synonyms

impromptu · on the fly · extempore · ex tempore · a piacere

Translations (20)

de nach Belieben (at pleasure) · ru по жела́нию (at will) · de improvisiert (extemporaneously) · ru экспро́мтом (extemporaneously) · de beliebig (at pleasure) · de beliebig (at will) · es ad libitum (at will) · es ad libitum (at pleasure) · fr ad libitum (as much as desired, without restriction) · de nach Herzenslust (at pleasure) · hu tetszés szerint (at pleasure) · fr à discrétion (as much as desired, without restriction) · ru ско́лько уго́дно (as much as desired, without restriction) · pt à vontade (at pleasure) · pt à vontade (at will) · th พูดกลอนสด (extemporaneously) · es ad líbitum (at pleasure) · fr ad libitum (at will) · ru как уго́дно (at pleasure) · es ad líbitum (at will)

ad lib en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈæd ˈlɪb/
• /æd ˈlɪb/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Abbreviation of ad libitum, borrowed from New Latin ad libitum.

Meanings

1. An instance of something improvised, especially a line.
2. Improvised vocals added after the main vocals have been recorded which serve to emphasize the rhythm or fill the lyrical bar line.

Forms

Descendants

애드리브 · 드립

ad lib en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈæd ˈlɪb/
• /æd ˈlɪb/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Abbreviation of ad libitum, borrowed from New Latin ad libitum.

Meanings

1. To perform without a script.
2. To perform without preparation.
3. To perform extemporaneously.
   • She ad libbed the rest of the scene.
4. (intransitive, qualifier:chiefly hip hop) To perform ad libs; to improvise lyrics after the main lyrics have been recorded.
5. (qualifier:chiefly hip hop, transitive) To perform (lyrics) as ad libs.

Forms

Synonyms

fake

Translations (12)

fr improviser (to perform without script) · pt improvisar (to perform extemporaneously) · fr improviser (to perform extemporaneously) · pt improvisar (to perform without script) · fr improviser (to perform without preparation) · de improvisieren (to perform without preparation) · de improvisieren (to perform extemporaneously) · pt improvisar (to perform without preparation) · es improvisar (to perform without preparation) · de improvisieren (to perform without script) · es improvisar (to perform extemporaneously) · es improvisar (to perform without script)