augment

UK: /ɔːgˈmɛnt/ US: /ɔgˈmɛnt/ ,(v. ôg ment′; n. ôg′ment)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

aug•ment /ɔgˈmɛnt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to make larger;
   enlarge in size, number, or strength;
   increase:
   He taught English after work to augment his income.

aug•men•ta•tion, n. [countable]
aug•ment•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

aug•ment  (v. ôg ment′;n. ôg′ment), v.t. 

1. to make larger;
   enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent;
   increase:
   His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
2. Music and Dance
   • to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
   • to double the note values of (a theme):
     In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
3. Grammar to add an augment to.
4. Heraldry to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).

v.i. 

5. to become larger.

n. 

6. Grammar a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.

• Late Latin augmentāre to increase, derivative of augmentum an increase (aug(ēre) to increase (akin to eke) + -mentum -ment) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive ending
• Anglo-French, Middle French au(g)menter
• late Middle English au(g)menten 1375–1425

aug•ment′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. swell. See increase. 
• 5. increase.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

augment verb / ɔːɡˈmɛnt/

1. to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase
2. (transitive) to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitone
   Compare diminish3

Etymology: 15th Century: from Late Latin augmentāre to increase, from augmentum growth, from Latin augēre to increase

augˈmentable adjective

augˈmentor, augˈmenter noun