Main Entry: ¹in·crease

Pronunciation: \in-ˈkrēs, ˈin-ˌ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): in·creased; in·creas·ing

Etymology: Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow — more at crescent

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 : to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)
2 : to multiply by the production of youngtransitive verb 1 : to make greater : augment
2 obsolete : enrich

— in·creas·able \-ˈkrē-sə-bəl, -ˌkrē-\ adjective

— in·creas·er noun

synonyms increase, enlarge, augment, multiply mean to make or become greater. increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity <his waistline increased with age>; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition <increased her landholdings>. enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity <enlarged the kitchen>. augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed <the inheritance augmented his fortune>. multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process <with each attempt the problems multiplied>.