-ˌrāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by French améliorer, alteration — influenced by Latin melior — of ameilleurer, from Old French ameillorer, from a- — from Latin ad- — + -meillorer, from meillor better, from Latin melior ) of meliorate — more at meliorate
transitive verb
: to make better : improve
ameliorate conditions
intransitive verb
: to grow better : improve
the situation ameliorated
Synonyms: see improve