augment

[ verb awg-ment; noun awg-ment ]
See synonyms for augment on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.

  2. Music.

    • to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.

    • to double the note values of (a theme): In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.

  1. Grammar. to add an augment to.

  2. Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).

verb (used without object)
  1. to become larger.

noun
  1. Grammar. a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.

Origin of augment

1
First recorded in 1375–1475; late Middle English au(g)menten, from Anglo-French, Middle French au(g)menter, from Late Latin augmentāre “to increase,” derivative of augmentum “an increase,” from aug(ēre) “to increase” (akin to eke1) + -mentum -ment)

Other words for augment

Other words from augment

  • aug·ment·a·ble, adjective
  • un·aug·ment·a·ble, adjective
  • un·aug·ment·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use augment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for augment

augment

verb(ɔːɡˈmɛnt)
  1. to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase

  2. (tr) music to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitone: Compare diminish (def. 3)

  1. (tr) (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) to prefix a vowel or diphthong to (a verb) to form a past tense

noun(ˈɔːɡmɛnt)
  1. (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) a vowel or diphthong prefixed to a verb to form a past tense

Origin of augment

1
C15: from Late Latin augmentāre to increase, from augmentum growth, from Latin augēre to increase

Derived forms of augment

  • augmentable, adjective
  • augmentor or augmenter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012