augment

[ verb awg-ment; noun awg-ment ]
/ verb ɔgˈmɛnt; noun ˈɔg mɛnt /

verb (used with object)

to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
Music.
  1. to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
  2. to double the note values of (a theme): In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
Grammar. to add an augment to.
Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).

verb (used without object)

to become larger.

noun

Grammar. a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.

Origin of augment

1375–1425; late Middle English au(g)menten < Anglo-French, Middle French au(g)menter < Late Latin augmentāre to increase, derivative of augmentum an increase ( aug(ēre) to increase (akin to eke1) + -mentum -ment) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive ending

SYNONYMS FOR augment

1 swell. See increase.
5 increase.

OTHER WORDS FROM augment

aug·ment·a·ble, adjective un·aug·ment·a·ble, adjective un·aug·ment·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for augment

British Dictionary definitions for augment

augment

verb (ɔːɡˈmɛnt)

to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase
(tr) music to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitone Compare diminish (def. 3)
(tr) (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) to prefix a vowel or diphthong to (a verb) to form a past tense

noun (ˈɔːɡmɛnt)

(in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) a vowel or diphthong prefixed to a verb to form a past tense

Derived forms of augment

augmentable, adjective augmentor or augmenter, noun

Word Origin for augment

C15: from Late Latin augmentāre to increase, from augmentum growth, from Latin augēre to increase