advance

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• intransitive verb To cause to move forward.
• intransitive verb To put forward; propose or suggest.
• intransitive verb To aid the growth or progress of.
• intransitive verb To raise in rank; promote.
• intransitive verb To cause to occur sooner.
• intransitive verb To raise in amount or rate; increase.
• intransitive verb To pay (money or interest) before due.
• intransitive verb To supply or lend, especially on credit.
• intransitive verb To serve as an advance person for (a trip to be made by a politician or a dignitary).
• intransitive verb Archaic To lift.
• intransitive verb To go or move forward or onward.
• intransitive verb To move against another, as when attacking.
• intransitive verb To make progress; improve.
• intransitive verb To rise in rank, position, or value.
• intransitive verb To serve as an advance person for a trip to be made by a politician or a dignitary.
• noun The act or process of moving or going forward.
• noun A forward move, as toward an objective; a progressive step.
• noun An increase of price or value.
• noun Opening approaches made to secure acquaintance, favor, or an agreement; overtures.
• noun The furnishing of funds or goods on credit.
• noun The funds or goods so furnished; a loan.
• noun Payment of money before due.
• noun The money so paid.
• noun Preparation, especially publicity, done prior to the appearance of a public figure or the staging of a public event.
• adjective Made or given ahead of time.
• adjective Going before, in front, or forward.
• idiom (in advance) Ahead of time; beforehand.
• idiom (in advance of) In front of; ahead of.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A moving forward or toward the front; a forward course; progress in space: as, our advance was impeded by obstructions.
• noun Milit., the order or signal to advance: as, the advance was sounded.
• noun A step forward; actual progress in any course of action: often in the plural: as, an advance in religion or knowledge; civilization has made great advances in this century.
• noun An act of approach; an effort for approximation or agreement; anything done to bring about accord or any relation with another or others: with to before the person and toward before the object or purpose: as, A made an advance or advances to B, or toward acquaintance with B.
• noun A forward position; place in front, at the head, or in the lead: as, his regiment took the advance in the march. The state of being forward or in front; a being or going at the head or in the lead: chiefly in the phrase in advance: as, the groom rode in advance of the carriage; he is far in advance of the other pupils.
• noun He who or that which is at the head or in the lead; the foremost or forward part; especially, the leading body of an army.
• noun In schools, a lesson not previously learned: opposed to review.
• noun Advancement; promotion; preferment: as, an advance in rank or office.
• noun An offer or tender.
• noun In com.: Addition to price; rise in price: as, an advance on the prime cost of goods; there is an advance on cottons.
• noun A giving before-hand; a furnishing of something before an equivalent is received, as money or goods, toward a capital or stock, or on loan, or in expectation of being reimbursed in some way: as, A made large advances to B.
• noun The money or goods thus furnished.
• noun In naval tactics, the distance made by a ship under way, in the direction of her course, after the helm has been put to one side and kept there: opposed to transfer, the distance made at right angles to the original course of the vessel before the helm was put over.
• noun Beforehand; before an equivalent is received: as, to pay rent in advance.
• noun In the state or condition of having made an advance: as, A is in advance to B a thousand dollars. Synonyms Advancement, Proficiency, etc. See progress, n.
• To bring forward in place; move further in front.
• To forward in time; accelerate: as, to advance the growth of plants.
• To improve or make better; benefit; promote the good of: as, to advance one's true interests.
• To promote; raise to a higher rank: as, to advance one from the bar to the bench.