inflate

inflate
[[t]ɪnfle͟ɪt[/t]]
inflates, inflating, inflated
1) V-ERG If you inflate something such as a balloon or tyre, or if it inflates, it becomes bigger as it is filled with air or a gas.

[V n] Stuart jumped into the sea and inflated the liferaft...

Don's lifejacket had failed to inflate.

2) V-ERG If you say that someone inflates the price of something, or that the price inflates, you mean that the price increases.

[V n] The promotion of a big release can inflate a film's final cost...

Clothing prices have not inflated as much as automobiles.

Syn:
Derived words:
inflated ADJ-GRADED

They had to buy everything at inflated prices at the ranch store.

3) VERB If someone inflates the amount or effect of something, they say it is bigger, better, or more important than it really is, usually so that they can profit from it.

[V n] They inflated their clients' medical injuries and treatment to defraud insurance companies...

[V n] Even his war record was fraudulently inflated.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • 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

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