increase

/in-ˈkrēs/

Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow

verb

  1. to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)

  2. to multiply by the production of young

  3. to make greater : augment

increase enlarge augment multiply mean to make or become greater. increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity ; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

noun

  1. the act or process of increasing: such as

  2. addition or enlargement in size, extent, or quantity

  3. propagation

biographical name

  1. Increase 1639—1723 father of Cotton Mather American clergyman and author; president Harvard College (1685—1701)