increase

Main Entry:: ¹in·crease
Pronunciation:: \in-ˈkrēs, ˈin-ˌ\
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
Date:: 14th century

intransitive verb1: to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)2: to multiply by the production of youngtransitive verb1: to make greater : augment2obsolete : enrich

— in·creas·able

\-ˈkrē-sə-bəl, -ˌkrē-\ 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>.

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