increase

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increase[1,verb] increased

Main Entry: ¹in·crease
Pronunciation: in-'krEs, 'in-"
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): in·creased; in·creas·ing
Etymology: Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow -- more at CRESCENT
intransitive verb
1 : to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)
2 : to multiply by the production of young
transitive verb
1 : to make greater : AUGMENT
2 obsolete : ENRICH
- in·creas·able /-'krE-s&-b&l, -"krE-/ adjective
- in·creas·er noun
synonyms INCREASE, ENLARGE, AUGMENT, MULTIPLY mean to make or become greater. INCREASE used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity <his waistline increased with age>; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition <increased her landholdings>. ENLARGE implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity <enlarged the kitchen>. AUGMENT implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed <the inheritance augmented his fortune>. MULTIPLY implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process <with each attempt the problems multiplied>.