Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To fill (something) with air or gas so as to make it swell.
- intransitive verb To fill with pride; aggrandize.
- intransitive verb To represent as greater or more important than is in fact the case: synonym: exaggerate.
- intransitive verb To cause (a currency or economy) to undergo inflation.
- intransitive verb To become inflated.
from The Century Dictionary.
-     To swell or distend by inhaling or injecting air or gas; distend in any manner: as, to infiate the lungs, a bladder, or a balloon.
-     To swell or extend unduly; expand beyond proper or natural limits; raise above the just amount or value: as, to infiate the currency or prices; to inflate the market (that is, the price of marketable commodities, as stocks).
- To puff out or up; make swollen or turgid.
-     To puff up; elate: as, to inflate one with pride or self-importance.
- Inflated.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Blown in; inflated.
- intransitive verb To expand; to fill; to distend.
- transitive verb To swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge
- transitive verb Fig.: To swell; to puff up; to elate.
- transitive verb To cause to become unduly expanded or increased.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive  To enlarge an object bypushing air (or a gas) into it; to raise or expand abnormally
- verb intransitive  To enlarge byfilling with air (or a gas).
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb increase the amount or availability of, creating a rise in value
- verb become inflated
- verb fill with gas or air
- verb cause prices to rise by increasing the available currency or credit
- verb exaggerate or make bigger
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
 
				Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word inflate.
Examples
- 
								The justified fear of Trichet is that monetary expansion will again inflate asset bubbles and will do little or nothing for the real economy. 
- 
								The worst of these titles inflate their claims to hyperbolic levels. 
- 
								A common view is that governments will be sorely tempted to " inflate " the debt away. Why Dave Is Now a Goldbug Dave Kansas 2010 
- 
								If I was committed to pleasing publishers instead of telling my opinion, wouldn't I also "inflate" my review grade, too? New Blog Name: Cowardly Book News & Reviews Jeff C 2009 
- 
								-Except that most of the corporations "inflate" on "hot air" as do most politicians *grin* What's the Difference Between Publishing and the Hindenberg? Editorial Anonymous 2008 
- 
								Publishers had no intention of using a digital edition to "inflate" circ numbers for increased ad revenue.....they want to save PPD costs. Digital Editions of Print Pubs Are Publisher-Centric - Publishing 2.0 2006 
- 
								In fact Both think that the failure of Japan to defeat deflation was caused by Japan's reluctance to "inflate" soon enough in response. 
- 
								Solder on an all-metal cycle valve, "inflate" the boiler to a considerable pressure, and submerge it in a tub of water. Things To Make Archibald Williams 
- 
								The sheets in can't find toilet jet hole are meant to detect to caustic towelettes their entire car in semen to "inflate" the cushions. Wii-volution 2010 
- 
								The liquids in summer hill eau de toilette are meant to make to available vapors their common channel in madness to "inflate" the cushions. Wii-volution 2010 
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.