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inflate

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The definition of inflate is to fill an expandable structure with air or gas to make it larger, or to exaggerate something or increase something by a large amount.

(verb)

When you blow up a balloon or fill it with helium, this is an example of when you inflate.
When a balloon is filled with helium and grows rounder and larger, this is an example of when it inflates.
When you have a minor little paper cut and you act as if you are dying, this is an example of when you = inflate the importance of the cut.
When the cost of a movie ticket goes from $2 to $10, this is an example of a time the theatre inflates the prices.

See inflate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb inflated, inflating

to blow full or swell out as with air or gas; distend; expand; dilate
to raise in spirits; make proud or elated
to increase or raise beyond what is normal or valid
to cause inflation of (money, credit, etc.)

Origin: < L inflatus, pp. of inflare, to blow into, inflate < in-, in + flare, to blow

intransitive verb

to become inflated; swell

Related Forms:

inflater noun or inflator

See inflate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb in·flat·ed, in·flat·ing, in·flates

verb, transitive

To fill (something) with air or gas so as to make it swell.
a. To enlarge or amplify unduly or improperly; aggrandize.
b. To raise or expand abnormally or improperly. See Synonyms at exaggerate.
To cause (a currency or an economy) to undergo inflation.

verb, intransitive

To become inflated.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English inflaten

Origin: , from Latin īnflāre, īnflāt-

Origin: : in-, in; see in-²

Origin: + flāre, to blow; see bhlē- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: