v.
Pronunciation: im- ' prüv
Function: verb
Inflected Form: im · proved ; im · prov · ing
Etymology: Middle English improuen, emprouen, from Anglo-French emprouer to make profit from, from French en- + pru, prou advantage, from Late Latin prode ― more at PROUD
Date: circa 1529
transitive verb
1 archaic : EMPLOY , USE
2 a : to enhance in value or quality : make better b : to increase the value of (land or property) by making it more useful for humans (as by cultivation or the erection of buildings) c : to grade and drain (a road) and apply surfacing material other than pavement
3 : to use to good purpose
intransitive verb
1 : to advance or make progress in what is desirable
2 : to make useful additions or amendments
– im · prov · abil · i · ty \ ( ˌ )im- ˌ prü-v ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– im · prov · able \ - ' prü-v ə -b ə l \ adjective
– im · prov · er noun
synonyms IMPROVE , BETTER , HELP , AMELIORATE mean to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard. IMPROVE and BETTER are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad <measures to further improve the quality of medical care> <immigrants hoping to better their lot>. HELP implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement <a coat of paint would help that house>. AMELIORATE implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure <tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements>.