Definition of: increase

(in·krēs′) v. ·creased, ·creas·ing v.i.
1. To become greater, as in amount, size, degree, etc.; grow.
2. To grow in numbers, especially by reproduction: May your tribe increase.
—v.t.
3. To make greater, as in amount, size, degree, etc.; augment; enlarge.
—noun (in′krēs)
1. The act or process of growing larger, as in quantity, size, degree, etc.; augmentation; enlargement; extension.
2. An added or increased amount; increment: an increase in pay.
3. A production of offspring; propagation: blessed with a large increase.
4. Offspring; progeny.
5. Archaic. Crops of the earth. [OF encreistre <L increscere <in- in + crescere grow <creare create]
—in·creas′a·ble adjective
—in·creas′ing·ly adverb Synonyms (verb): advance, aggravate, augment, enhance, enlarge, exaggerate, extend, heighten, intensify, magnify, prolong, raise. See ADD, AGGRAVATE, AMPLIFY, FLOURISH, PROPAGATE, SWELL. Antonyms: abbreviate, abridge, contract, curtail, decrease, diminish. Synonyms (noun): access, accession, accretion, addendum, addition, aggravation, amplification, appendage, augmentation, complement, enhancement, enlargement, expansion, extension, growth, harvest, improvement, increment, product, reenforcement, return. See ACCESSION, HARVEST, PROGRESS. Antonyms: abbreviation, contraction, deduction, diminution, expenditure, loss, subtraction, waste.