INCREASE


Meaning of INCREASE in English

Pronunciation: in- ' kr ē s, ' in- ˌ

Function: verb

Inflected Form: in · creased ; in · creas · ing

Etymology: Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow ― more at CRESCENT

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb

1 : to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)

2 : to multiply by the production of young

transitive verb

1 : to make greater : AUGMENT

2 obsolete : ENRICH

– in · creas · able \ - ' kr ē -s ə -b ə l, - ˌ kr ē - \ adjective

– in · creas · er noun

synonyms INCREASE , ENLARGE , AUGMENT , MULTIPLY mean to make or become greater. INCREASE used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity <his waistline increased with age>; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition < increased her landholdings>. ENLARGE implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity < enlarged the kitchen>. AUGMENT implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed <the inheritance augmented his fortune>. MULTIPLY implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process <with each attempt the problems multiplied >.

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.