in ‧ flate /ɪnˈfleɪt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ inflatable , ↑ inflated , ↑ inflationary , ↑ deflationary , ↑ reflationary ; noun : ↑ inflation , ↑ inflatable , ↑ deflation , ↑ reflation ; verb : ↑ inflate , ↑ deflate , ↑ reflate ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of inflare , from flare 'to blow' ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to fill something with air or gas so it becomes larger, or to become filled with air or gas:
It took us half an hour to inflate the dinghy.
Her life jacket failed to inflate.
2 . [transitive] to make something seem more important or impressive than it really is:
The success further inflated his self-confidence.
be grossly/vastly/hugely inflated
The numbers of people involved have been grossly inflated by the media.
3 . [intransitive and transitive] technical to increase in price, or to make something increase in price:
Hotels often inflate prices at particular times of the year.
Costs were inflating.