increase Hear it!

increase definition

in·crease (in krēs′, in′krēs′; for n. in′krēs′, in krēs′)

intransitive verb increased -·creased′, increasing -·creas′·ing

  1. to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.; grow
  2. to become greater in numbers by producing offspring; multiply; propagate

Etymology: ME encresen < OFr encreistre < L increscere < in-, in, on + crescere, to grow: see crescent

transitive verb

to cause to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.; add to; augment

noun

  1. an increasing or becoming increased; specif.,
    1. growth, enlargement, etc.
    2. Archaic multiplication, as of offspring
  2. the result or amount of an increasing a population increase of 10%

Etymology: ME encrese

Related Forms:

increase Idioms

on the increase

increasing

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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