v. & n.
v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become greater in size, amount, etc., or more numerous. 2 intr. advance (in quality, attainment, etc.). 3 tr. intensify (a quality).
n. 1 the act or process of becoming greater or more numerous; growth, enlargement. 2 (of people, animals, or plants) growth in numbers; multiplication. 3 the amount or extent of an increase. on the increase increasing, esp. in frequency. increasable adj. increaser n. increasingly adv.
[ ME f. OF encreiss- stem of encreistre f. L increscere (as IN-(2), crescere grow) ]