to move or go forward; proceed: The troops advanced.
14.
to increase in quantity, value, price, etc.: His stock advanced three points.
15.
(of a color, form, etc., on a flat surface) to move toward or be perceived as moving toward an observer, especially as giving the illusion of space. Compare recede1(def. 3).
16.
to improve or make progress.
17.
to grow or rise in importance, status, etc.: to advance in rank.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a forward movement; progress in space: the advance of the troops to the border.
20.
promotion; improvement in importance, rank, etc.: his advance to the position of treasurer.
21.
Usually, advances.
a.
attempts at forming an acquaintanceship, reaching an agreement, or the like, made by one party.
b.
actions or words intended to be sexually inviting.
22.
addition to price; rise in price: an advance on cottons.
23.
Commerce.
a.
a giving beforehand; a furnishing of something before an equivalent is received: An advance on his next month's salary permitted him to pay his debt on time.
b.
the money or goods thus furnished: He received $100 as an advance against future delivery.
copy prepared before the event it describes has occurred: The morning papers carried advances on the ceremony, whichwill take place tonight.
b.
a press release, wire-service dispatch, or the like, as one containing the text or partial text of a speech, sent to arrive in advance of the event to which it is related. Compare release copy.
25.
the leading body of an army.
26.
Military. (formerly) the order or a signal to advance.
27.
Informal.
a.
publicity done before the appearance of a noted person, a public event, etc.: She was hired to do advance for the candidate.
b.
a person hired to do advance publicity for an event: He is regarded as the best advance in the business.
28.
Automotive,Machinery. an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine to generate the spark for ignition in each cylinder earlier in the cycle. Compare retard(def. 5).
going or placed before: an advance section of a train.
31.
made or given ahead of time: an advance payment on a loan.
32.
issued ahead of time: an advance copy of the President's speech.
33.
having gone beyond others or beyond the average.
Idioms
34.
in advance, ahead of time; beforehand: You must get your tickets in advance.
35.
in advance of, in front of; before: Heralds walked in advance of the king.
Origin: 1200–50; Middle English avauncen < Anglo-French, Old French avanc(i)er < Vulgar Latin *abantiāre, verbal derivative of Late Latin abante in front (of) (Latin ab away from, off + ante before); ad- by mistaking a- for a-5 in the 16th cent.
Synonyms 2. adduce, propound; offer. 3. forward, promote. 6. force; quicken, hasten, speed up. 9. lend, loan. 13.Advance,move on,proceed all imply movement forward. Advance applies to forward movement, especially toward an objective: to advance to a platform. Proceed emphasizes movement, as from one place to another, and often implies continuing after a halt: to proceed on one's journey. Move on is similar in meaning to proceed; it does not, however, imply a definite goal: The crowd was told to move on. 16. thrive, flourish; prosper. 20. growth, advancement. 21. overture, proposal; offer, tender. 24. prepublication. 25. spearhead.