/im proohv"meuhnt/ , n.
1. an act of improving or the state of being improved.
2. a change or addition by which a thing is improved.
3. a person or thing that represents an advance on another in excellence or achievement: The new landlord is a great improvement over his greedy predecessor.
4. a bringing into a more valuable or desirable condition, as of land or real property; betterment.
5. something done or added to real property that increases its value.
6. profitable use, as of a period of time.
[ 1400-50; late ME improuement emprouement something profitable (especially exploitation of land). See IMPROVE, -MENT ]
Syn. 3. refinement, betterment, advancement. 4. enhancement, repair.