improve

improve
improvable, adj.improvability, improvableness, n.improvably, adv.improvingly, adv.
/im proohv"/, v., improved, improving.
v.t.
1. to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition: He took vitamins to improve his health.
2. to make (land) more useful, profitable, or valuable by enclosure, cultivation, etc.
3. to increase the value of (real property) by betterments, as the construction of buildings and sewers.
4. to make good use of; turn to account: He improved the stopover by seeing a client with offices there.
v.i.
5. to increase in value, excellence, etc.; become better: The military situation is improving.
6. to make improvements, as by revision, addition, or change: None of the younger violinists have been able to improve on his interpretation of that work.
[1425-75; late ME improuen, emprouen < AF emprouer to turn (something) into profit, deriv. of phrase en prou into profit, equiv. to en (see EN-1) + prou, OF prou, preu < LL prode (est), by reanalysis of L prodest (it) is beneficial, of use, with prode taken as a neut. n. (cf. PROUD); v by assoc. with PROVE, APPROVE]
Syn. 1. amend, emend. IMPROVE, AMELIORATE, BETTER imply bringing to a more desirable state. IMPROVE usually implies remedying a lack or a felt need: to improve a process, oneself (as by gaining more knowledge). AMELIORATE, a formal word, implies improving oppressive, unjust, or difficult conditions: to ameliorate working conditions. To BETTER is to improve conditions which, though not bad, are unsatisfying: to better an attempt, oneself (gain a higher salary).
Ant. 1, 5. worsen.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • improve — im‧prove [ɪmˈpruːv] verb 1. [intransitive, transitive] FINANCE if shares, prices etc improve by a particular amount, they rise by that amount: • Jaguar improved 21p, closing at 665p. improve by • Hungary s dollar current account improved by a… …   Financial and business terms

  • improve — 1 Improve, better, help, ameliorate are comparable when denoting to mend or correct in part or in some de gree. Improve, the general term, and better, more vigorous and homely, apply both to objects and to states or conditions that are not of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Improve — Im*prove , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Improved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Improving}.] [Pref. in in + prove, in approve. See {Approve}, {Prove.}] 1. To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Improve — Im*prove , v. i. 1. To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health. [1913 Webster] We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • improve — [im pro͞ov′] vt. improved, improving [earlier improw < Anglo Fr emprower < en , in + prou, gain, advantage < LL prode, advantage (back form. < L prodesse, to be of advantage): see PRO 2 & IS1] 1. Now Rare to use profitably or to good… …   English World dictionary

  • Improve — Im*prove , v. t. [Pref. im not + prove: cf. L. improbare, F. improuver.] 1. To disprove or make void; to refute. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • improve\ on — • improve (up)on v To make or get one that is better than (another). Dick made good marks the first year, but he thought he could improve on them. Charles built a new model racer for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • improve — I verb advance, ameliorate, amend, appreciate, beautify, correct, cultivate, cure, develop, doctor, edify, edit, elaborate, elevate, embellish, emend, enhance, ennoble, enrich, fix, flourish, gain, gain strength, heighten, help, increase,… …   Law dictionary

  • improve — (v.) late 15c., to use to one s profit, to increase (income), from Anglo Fr. emprouwer to turn to profit (late 13c.), from O.Fr. en , causative prefix, + prou profit, from L. prode advantageous (see PROUD (Cf. proud)). Spelling with v was rare… …   Etymology dictionary

  • improve — ► VERB 1) make or become better. 2) (improve on/upon) achieve or produce something better than. 3) (improving) giving moral or intellectual benefit. DERIVATIVES improvability noun improvable adjective improver …   English terms dictionary

  • Improve — means to make something better. It may also refer to:Improver* Bread improver * Improver Corporation: Improver v Remington, a 1990 United Kingdom patent infringement law court caseImproved* Improved clinch knot, a knot * Most Improved Player, a… …   Wikipedia

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