Pronunciation: ə - ' m ē l-y ə - ˌ r ā t, - ' m ē -l ē - ə -
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -rat · ed ; -rat · ing
Etymology: alteration of meliorate
Date: 1767
transitive verb : to make better or more tolerable
intransitive verb : to grow better
synonyms see IMPROVE
– ame · lio · ra · tion \ - ˌ m ē l-y ə - ' r ā -sh ə n, - ˌ m ē -l ē - ə - \ noun
– ame · lio · ra · tive \ - ' m ē l-y ə - ˌ r ā -tiv, - ' m ē -l ē - ə - \ adjective
– ame · lio · ra · tor \ - ˌ r ā -t ə r \ noun
– ame · lio · ra · to · ry \ -r ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective