v.tr. 1 distend (a balloon etc.) with air. 2 (usu. foll. by with; usu. in passive) puff up (a person with pride etc.). 3 a (often absol.) bring about inflation (of the currency). b raise (prices) artificially. 4 (as inflated adj.) (esp. of language, sentiments, etc.) bombastic. inflatedly adv. inflatedness n. inflater n. inflator n.
[ L inflare inflat- (as IN-(2), flare blow) ]