I. (ˈ)in|krēs, ənˈk- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English encresen, incresen, from Middle French encreiss-, stem of encreistre, encroistre, from Latin increscere, from in- in- (II) + crescere to grow — more at crescent
intransitive verb
1. : to become greater in some respect (as in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth) : grow , advance , wax — opposed to decrease
his wealth increased over the years
increasing in knowledge through study
2. : to multiply by the production of young : be prolific
the herd increases yearly
3. of a Latin noun or adjective : to have a syllable more in the genitive than in the nominative (as in rex, regis )
transitive verb
1. : to make greater in some respect (as in bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount) : add to : enhance
increase his possessions
2. archaic : to cause to be richer, more prosperous, or more powerful : enrich , promote
3. : to add (a stitch) to knitting by knitting twice in the same stitch (as in the front and the back of the stitch)
Synonyms:
enlarge , augment , multiply : increase intransitively may carry the idea of progressive growth in numbers, size, amount, quantity or intensity
our population is increasing
prices increased on all necessities — Collier's Year Book
the rice yield to the acre increased with improved methods — American Guide Series: Texas
transitively this notion is not so prominent
the trustees increased salaries
enlarge suggests expansion or extension of any sort
to enlarge a building
enlarging the farm
enlarging the personnel of the department
the abundant opportunities which the aesthetic realm provides to enlarge our experience — Hunter Mead
early New England life when strong men enjoyed religion and enlarged their minds by profound metaphysical discussion — C.A.Dinsmore
augment intransitively may suggest further growth, development, or increase of something already grown or developed
the literature of cryptography, both in the form of secret government manuals and openly published books, had augmented enormously since 1880 — Fletcher Pratt
transitively it may suggest addition to sufficiency or ampleness
the city police, augmented by special deputies, were also called out — American Guide Series: Tennessee
by their weight, which was augmented by laying a number of old rails on the top, these slabs have the effect of preventing any tendency for the clay to work up — O.S.Nock
multiply intransitively may suggest increase by natural generation
in those days the Anglo-American stock, a very fine one, multiplied like rabbits — W.R.Inge
mosquitoes multiply rapidly
in all uses it is likely to indicate increasing manifold
skins which would multiply Mr. Astor's wealth — Meridel Le Sueur
those ships had multiplied until their very numbers were menacing — Kenneth Roberts
II. ˈinˌkrēs also ə̇nˈk- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English encres, incres, from encresen, incresen, v.
1. : act of increasing: as
a. : addition or enlargement in size, extent, quantity, number, intensity, value, substance : augmentation , growth , multiplication
an increase of knowledge
b. obsolete : production of young : propagation
c. obsolete
(1) : growth in wealth, dignity, or influence : advancement
(2) : the rising of flood or tidal waters
2. : something that results from or is produced by increasing : an addition or increment : something that is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth (as progeny, issue, offspring, produce, profit, interest)