increase

verb

1. (intransitive)(of a quantity, etc.) To become larger or greater, to greaten.

   “His rage only increased when I told him of the lost money.”

   “The waters increased and bare up the ark.”

   “The heavens forbid / But that our loves and comforts should increase, / Even as our days do grow!”

   “I have reckoned upon a Medium, that a Child juſt born vvill vveigh 12 pounds, and in a ſolar Year if tollerably nurſed encreaſeth to 28 Pound.”

   “This contribution reduces with increasing distance p from the emitting surface element dA, due to conservation of energy, as the wave energy distributed across the spherical wave front remains constant, while the radius increases during ...”

2. (transitive)To make (a quantity, etc.) larger.

   “The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.”

   “Drivers like the idea of increasing traffic flow and reducing congestion on the portion of I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento.”

3. To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.

   “Fishes are infinitely more numerous of increasing than Beasts or Birds, as appears by the numerous Spawn.”

4. (intransitive)To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.

   “The Moon increases.”

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)An amount by which a quantity is increased.

   “An increase of about 30% in hits on the website.”

   “Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.”

   “She says an increase in melting from climate change may put that at risk.”

2. (countable, uncountable)For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger.
3. (countable, uncountable)Offspring, progeny.

   “That infortunate imperfit Embrion of my idle houres the Ile of Dogs before mentioned, breeding vnto me ſuch bitter throwes in the teaming as it did, and the tempeſtes that aroſe at his birth, ſo aſtoniſhing outragious and violent as if my braine had bene conceiued of another Hercules, I was ſo terrifyed with my owne encreaſe (like a woman long trauailing to bee deliuered of a monſter) that it was no ſooner borne but I was glad to run from it.”

4. (countable, uncountable)The creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).

name

1. (historical)A male given name.