7 dictionary results for: increase
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
in·crease
[v. in-krees; n. in-krees] Pronunciation Key verb, -creased, -creas·ing, noun
—Related forms
[v. in-krees; n. in-krees] Pronunciation Key verb, -creased, -creas·ing, noun –verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
–noun
| 1. | to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes. |
| 2. | to become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality: Sales of automobiles increased last year. |
| 3. | to multiply by propagation. |
| 4. | to wax, as the moon. |
| 5. | growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc.: the increase of crime. |
| 6. | the act or process of increasing. |
| 7. | that by which something is increased. |
| 8. | the result of increasing. |
| 9. | produce of the earth. |
| 10. | product; profit; interest. |
| 11. | Obsolete.
|
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME incresen, encresen < AF encres-, MF encreiss-, s. of encreistre < L incréscere, equiv. to in- in-2 + créscere to grow; see crescent
]
] —Related forms
in·creas·a·ble, adjective
—Synonyms 1. expand, extend, prolong. Increase, augment, enlarge may all mean to make larger. To increase means to make greater, as in quantity, extent, degree: to increase someone's salary; to increase the velocity; to increase the (degree of) concentration. Enlarge means to make greater in size, extent, or range: to enlarge a building, a business, one's conceptions. Augment, a more formal word, means to make greater, esp. by addition from the outside: to augment one's income (by doing extra work). 3. expand, grow, develop, swell. 6. enlargement, expansion.
—Antonyms 1, 3. decrease.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| in·crease
(ĭn-krēs') Pronunciation Key
v. in·creased, in·creas·ing, in·creas·es v. intr.
v. tr. To make greater or larger. n. (ĭn'krēs')
[Middle English encresen, from Old French encreistre, encreiss-, from Latin incrēscere : in-, intensive pref.; see in-2 + crēscere, to grow; see ker-2 in Indo-European roots.] in·creas'a·ble adj., in·creas'er n., in·creas'ing·ly adv. Synonyms: These verbs mean to make or become greater or larger. Increase sometimes suggests steady growth: The mayor's political influence rapidly increased. "No machines will increase the possibilities of life. They only increase the possibilities of idleness" (John Ruskin). |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
increase (v.)
increase (v.)
c.1315, from Anglo-Fr. encress-, from O.Fr. encreiss-, prp. stem of encreistre, from L. increscere "to increase," from in- "in" + crescere "to grow" (see crescent). L. spelling restored 15c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| increase | |
noun | |
| 1. | a quantity that is added; "there was an addition to property taxes this year"; "they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks" [syn: addition] |
| 2. | a change resulting in an increase; "the increase is scheduled for next month" [ant: decrease] |
| 3. | a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important; "the increase in unemployment"; "the growth of population" [ant: decrease] |
| 4. | the amount by which something increases; "they proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare" [ant: decrease] |
| 5. | the act of increasing something; "he gave me an increase in salary" [ant: decrease] |
verb | |
| 1. | become bigger or greater in amount; "The amount of work increased" [ant: decrease] |
| 2. | make bigger or more; "The boss finally increased her salary"; "The university increased the number of students it admitted" [ant: decrease] |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Increase
In*crease"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Increased; p. pr. & vb. n. Increasing.] [OE. incresen, encresen, enrescen, OF. encreistre, fr. L. increscere; pref. in- in + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Decrease.]1. To become greater or more in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth; to grow; to augment; to advance; -- opposed to decrease. The waters increased and bare up the ark. --Gen. vii. 17. He must increase, but I must decrease. --John iii. 30. The heavens forbid But that our loves and comforts should increase, Even as our days do grow! --Shak. 2. To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific. Fishes are more numerous of increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn. --Sir M. Hale. 3. (Astron.) To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases. Increasing function (Math.), a function whose value increases when that of the variable increases, and decreases when the latter is diminished. Syn: To enlarge; extend; multiply; expand; develop; heighten; amplify; raise; enhance; spread; aggravate; magnify; augment; advance. Usage: To Increase, Enlarge, Extend. Enlarge implies to make larger or broader in size. Extend marks the progress of enlargement so as to have wider boundaries. Increase denotes enlargement by growth and internal vitality, as in the case of plants. A kingdom is enlarged by the addition of new territories; the mind is enlarged by knowledge. A kingdom is extended when its boundaries are carried to a greater distance from the center. A man's riches, honors, knowledge, etc., are increased by accessions which are made from time to time.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Increase
In*crease"\, v. t. To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount, etc.; to add to; to extend; to lengthen; to enhance; to aggravate; as, to increase one's possessions, influence. I will increase the famine. --Ezek. v. 16. Make denials Increase your services. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Increase
In"crease\ (?; 277), n. [OE. encres, encresse. See Increase, v. i.]1. Addition or enlargement in size, extent, quantity, number, intensity, value, substance, etc.; augmentation; growth. As if increase of appetite had grown By what if fed on. --Shak. For things of tender kind for pleasure made Shoot up with swift increase, and sudden are decay'd. --Dryden. 2. That which is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth; produce; profit; interest. Take thou no usury of him, or increase. --Lev. xxv. 36. Let them not live to taste this land's increase. --Shak. 3. Progeny; issue; offspring. All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age. --1 Sam. ii. 33. 4. Generation. [Obs.] "Organs of increase." --Shak. 5. (Astron.) The period of increasing light, or luminous phase; the waxing; -- said of the moon. Seeds, hair, nails, hedges, and herbs will grow soonest if set or cut in the increase of the moon. --Bacon. Increase twist, the twixt of a rifle groove in which the angle of twist increases from the breech to the muzzle. Syn: Enlargement; extension; growth; development; increment; addition; accession; production.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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