verb (used with object), in·creased, in·creas·ing.
- to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.
verb (used without object), in·creased, in·creas·ing.
- to become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality: Sales of automobiles increased last year.
- to multiply by propagation.
- to wax, as the moon.
noun
- growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc.: the increase of crime.
- the act or process of increasing.
- that by which something is increased.
- the result of increasing.
- produce of the earth.
- product; profit; interest.
- Obsolete.
- multiplication by propagation; production of offspring.
- offspring; progeny.
verb (ɪnˈkriːs)
- to make or become greater in size, degree, frequency, etc; grow or expand
noun (ˈɪnkriːs)
- the act of increasing; augmentation
- the amount by which something increases
- on the increase increasing, esp becoming more frequent
late 14c., “action of increasing; results of an increasing,” from increase (v.).
early 14c., “become greater in size or number; to cause to grow, enlarge,” from Anglo-French encress-, Old French encreiss-, present participle stem of encreistre, from Latin increscere “to increase, to grow upon, grow over, swell, grow into,” from in- “in” (see in- (2)) + crescere “to grow” (see crescent). Latin spelling restored 15c. Related: Increased; increasing.