ə̇nˈrich, en- transitive verb
also en·rich·en -chən
( enriched also enrichened ; enriched also enrichened ; enriching -chiŋ ; also enrichening -ch(ə)niŋ ; enriches also enrichens )
Etymology: Middle English enrichen, from Middle French enrichir, from Old French, from en- en- (I) + riche rich — more at rich
1.
a. : to make (as oneself) rich or richer
he enriched himself at the expense of his brothers
the expanding economy gradually enriched the workers
b. : to increase the intellectual or spiritual riches of
his life was enriched by his charity
returning home enriched by this new experience
c. : to fill with things of value : add to the valuable contents of
sun and rain enrich the harvest
his several expeditions enriched the museum's collections of tropical fauna
d. : to add to or improve by additions
our language has been enriched from many sources
physical science is constantly being enriched by new discoveries
2.
a. : to supply with ornament
a collar enriched with embroidery
: adorn , deck
he plans to enrich the ceiling with frescoes
b. : to ornament (as an architectural member) with carving
paneling enriched with raised garlands of fruits and leaves
3.
a. : to make richer in some quality (as in nutritive value, savor, or beauty)
enrich the gray with a little flour browned in butter
the blooming laurel enriches the hill
enriching culture media for fastidious microorganisms
b. : to make (soil) more productive especially by increasing the supply of plant nutrients
the desert can be enriched and given new life by irrigation
usually : fertilize
enrich the compost with well-rotted manure or bone meal
c. : to improve (a food) in nutritive value by addition of vitamins and minerals in processing ; especially : to restore part of the thiamine, nicotinic acid, iron, and riboflavin removed in processing (wheat flour or cornmeal)
4. : to increase the proportion of valuable metal or mineral in (as by concentration or smelting)
5. : to expand (a course of study) especially in an elementary or secondary school by increasing the variety of subjects as well as the depth of treatment
bright pupils are given an enriched curriculum and are expected to cover much more than the normal amount of material at their grade level — J.D.Russell & C.H.Judd