An adverb is a word or an expression that generally modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, determiner, clause, preposition, or sentence. Adverbs typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc., answering questions such as how, in what way, when, where, to what extent. This is called the adverbial function and may be performed by single words (adverbs) or by multi-word adverbial phrases and adverbial clauses.

தமிழில் வினைச்சொல் ஒன்றை மேலும் விளக்கும் வகையில் அதற்கு அடையாக வரும் குறைசொல்லை வினையடை (adverb) என்பர். இடைச்சொல்லும், உரிச்சொல்லும் வினைக்கு அடைமொழியாக வரும்.