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.
Phrases and idioms:
on the increase increasing, esp. in frequency.
Derivatives:
increasable adj. increaser n. increasingly adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF encreiss- stem of encreistre f. L increscere (as IN-(2), crescere grow)