Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Inflate — In*flate , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Inflated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Inflating}.] 1. To swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs. [1913 Webster] When passion s tumults in the bosom… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
inflate — in‧flate [ɪnˈfleɪt] verb [intransitive, transitive] ECONOMICS if the cost or level of something inflates or is inflated, it increases, often above what is reasonable or normal: • Overseas sales were inflated by the depreciation of the yen. •… … Financial and business terms
Inflate — In*flate , p. a. [L. inflatus, p. p. of inflare to inflate; pref. in in + flare to blow. See {Blow} to puff wind.] Blown in; inflated. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Inflate — can refer to: * Inflation, or price inflation, is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over time * Monetary inflation is a rise in the quantity of money in an economy * Cosmic inflation, the theory relating to the expansion … Wikipedia
inflate — (v.) early 15c., cause to swell, from L. inflatus, pp. of inflare to blow into, inflate (see INFLATION (Cf. inflation)). Economics sense from 1844. In some senses a back formation from inflation. Related: Inflatable; inflated; inflating … Etymology dictionary
inflate — [in flāt′] vt. inflated, inflating [< L inflatus, pp. of inflare, to blow into, inflate < in , in + flare, to BLOW1] 1. to blow full or swell out as with air or gas; distend; expand; dilate 2. to raise in spirits; make proud or elated 3. to … English World dictionary
Inflate — In*flate , v. i. To expand; to fill; to distend. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
inflate — I verb aggrandize, amplify, balloon, bloat, blow up, broaden, cause to bulge, dilate, distend, enlarge, escalate, exaggerate, expand, extend, fatten, fill out, fill with air, grow, increase, increase dimensions, inflare, magnify, make greater,… … Law dictionary
inflate — distend, swell, *expand, amplify, dilate Analogous words: enlarge, increase, augment: magnify, aggrandize, *exalt Antonyms: deflate Contrasted words: *contract, compress, shrink, condense, constrict … New Dictionary of Synonyms
inflate — [v] blow up, increase aerate, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon*, beef up*, bloat, boost, build up, cram*, dilate, distend, enlarge, escalate, exaggerate, exalt, expand, flesh out*, magnify, maximize, overestimate, pad*, puff up*, pump up*,… … New thesaurus
inflate — ► VERB 1) expand by filling with air or gas. 2) increase by a large or excessive amount. 3) exaggerate. 4) bring about inflation of (a currency) or in (an economy). ORIGIN Latin inflare blow into … English terms dictionary
