ameliorate Hear it!

ameliorate definition

amelio·rate (ə mēl′yə rāt′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb ameliorated -·rat′ed, ameliorating -·rat′·ing

to make or become better; improve

Etymology: < Fr améliorer < OFr ameillorer < a-, to + meillor < L melior, better

Related Forms:

  • ameliorable amel′io·rable (-yə rə bəl) adjective
  • amelioration amel′io·ra′·tion (-yə rā′s̸hən) noun
  • ameliorative amel′io·ra′·tive (-yə rāt′iv, -yə rə tiv) adjective
  • ameliorator amel′io·rat′·or (-yə rāt′ər) noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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