inflate[verb]Synonyms: expand, bloat, blow up, dilate, distend, enlarge, increase, puff up
or out, pump up, swell
Antonyms: deflate
[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
in‧flate /ɪnˈfleɪt/
verb [
Word Family: adjective:
inflatable,
inflated,
inflationary,
deflationary,
reflationary;
noun:
inflation,
inflatable,
deflation,
reflation;
verb:
inflate,
deflate,
reflate]
[
Date: 1400-1500;
Language: Latin;
Origin: past participle of inflare, from flare 'to blow']
1. [intransitive and transitive] to fill something with air or gas so it becomes larger, or to become filled with air or gas:
It took us half an hour to inflate the dinghy. Her life jacket failed to inflate.2. [transitive] to make something seem more important or impressive than it really is:
The success further inflated his self-confidence.be grossly/vastly/hugely inflated The numbers of people involved have been grossly inflated by the media.3. [intransitive and transitive] technical to increase in price, or to make something increase in price:
Hotels often inflate prices at particular times of the year. Costs were inflating. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲