retrofit vs supplement

retrofit

verb
  • To give new characteristics or make alterations (to someone or something) to suit them to changed circumstances. 

  • To supply (a device, structure, etc.) with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; to modernize. 

  • Synonym of backport (“to retroactively supply a fix or feature to a previous version of a software product at the same time or after supplying it to the current version.”) 

  • To supply a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed. 

  • To add or substitute (new components or parts) that were not previously available for or installed in a device, structure, etc. 

noun
  • An act of supplying a device, structure, etc., with new components or parts that were not previously available or installed; a retrofitting. 

  • A change made to a device, structure, etc., by introducing components or parts that were not previously available or installed. 

supplement

verb
  • To provide or make a supplement to something. 

noun
  • A vitamin, herbal extract or chemical compound ingested to meet dietary deficiencies or enhance muscular development. 

  • Something added, especially to make up for a deficiency. 

  • An additional section of a newspaper devoted to a specific subject. 

  • An angle that, when added to a given angle, makes 180°; a supplementary angle. 

  • A surcharge, additional cost, especially for food in a restaurant. 

  • An extension to a document or publication that adds information, corrects errors or brings up to date. 

How often have the words retrofit and supplement occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )