Improve
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɪmˈpɹuËv/
- Rhymes: -uËv
Alternative forms
- emprove obsolete
Origin
From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou ("profit"), from Vulgar Latin prode ("advantageous, profitable")
Full definition of improve
Verb
- (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
- 2013-06-22, Engineers of a different kind, Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.
- Painting the woodwork will improve this house.Buying more servers would improve performance.
- (intransitive) To become better.I have improved since taking the tablets.The error messages have improved since the last version, when they were incomprehensible.
- (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
- TyndaleNeither can any of them make so strong a reason which another cannot improve.
- (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.to improve negligence
- TyndaleWhen he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.
- (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.to improve one's time; to improve his means
- BarrowWe shall especially honour God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us.
- Addisona hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved
- BlackstoneThe court seldom fails to improve the opportunity.
- I. WattsHow doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour. - WashingtonTrue policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.
Synonyms
- (to make something better) ameliorate, better, batten, enhance