First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1augment
verb aug·ment \ȯg-ˈment\
: to increase the size or amount of (something)
: to add something to (something) in order to improve or complete it
Full Definition of AUGMENT
transitive verb
1
: to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense <the impact of the report was augmented by its timing>
2
: to add an augment to (see 2augment)
3
: supplement <augmented her income>
intransitive verb
: to become augmented
— aug·ment·er or aug·men·tor \-ˈmen-tər\ noun
See augment defined for English-language learners
See augment defined for kids
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Examples of AUGMENT
- … a former member of Brunet's team, Jean-Renaud Boisserie of Berkeley, is in the Middle Awash seeking to augment the animal fossil record—particularly that of hippopotamuses. —Rex Dalton, Nature, 5 Jan. 2006
- These reserve units will soon be augmented by full-time Maritime Safety and Security Teams. The first of these teams was formed on July 3; a dozen more are supposed to be created within the next three years. —David Helvarg, Popular Science, September 2002
- The sale of its shares in such companies has helped augment its cash reserves from $1.7 billion to $2 billion. Call it a rainy-day fund—something that other dot-coms never had. But the move also suggests that even Yahoo has lost faith in the once boundless promise of Internet companies. —Brad Stone, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2001
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Origin of AUGMENT
Middle English, from Anglo-French augmenter, from Late Latin augmentare, from Latin augmentum increase, from augēre to increase — more at eke
Related to AUGMENT
Synonym Discussion of AUGMENT
increase, enlarge, augment, multiply mean to make or become greater. increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity <his waistline increased with age>; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition <increased her landholdings>. enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity <enlarged the kitchen>. augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed <the inheritance augmented his fortune>. multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process <with each attempt the problems multiplied>.
Rhymes with AUGMENT
absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent
2augment
noun aug·ment \ˈȯg-ˌment\
Definition of AUGMENT
: a vowel prefixed or a lengthening of the initial vowel to mark past time especially in Greek and Sanskrit verbs
Origin of AUGMENT
(see 1augment)
First Known Use: 1671
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
AUGMENT Defined for Kids
augment
verb aug·ment \ȯg-ˈment\
aug·ment·edaug·ment·ing
Definition of AUGMENT for Kids
: to increase in size, amount, or degree <He works a second job to augment his income.>
Medical Dictionary
augment
transitive verb aug·ment \ȯg-ˈment, ˈȯg-ˌment\
Medical Definition of AUGMENT
: to increase in size, amount, degree, or severity <diabetes mellitus is augmented by hyperthyroidism—C. H. Thienes>
Learn More About AUGMENT
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Next Word in the Dictionary: augmentationPrevious Word in the Dictionary: augitophyreAll Words Near: augment
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