Etymology : Middle English, from Latin inflatus, past participle of inflare, from in- + flare to blow; more at BLOW
Pronunciation : in-'flAt
Function : verb
Date : 15th century
1. expand; widen; fill with air or gas; swell; increase; cause inflation, raise price. inflate\in*flate"\ , p. a. [l. inflatus, p. p. of inflare to inflate; pref. in- in + flare to blow. see:
blow to puff wind.] blown in; inflated.inflate \in*flate"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. inflated; p. pr. & vb. n. inflating.].
2. to swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs. when passion's tumults in the bosom rise, inflate the features, and enrage the eyes. scott of amwell.
3. fig.: to swell; to puff up; to elate; as, to inflate one with pride or vanity. inflate themselves with some insane delight.
4. to cause to become unduly expanded or increased; as, to inflate the currency.inflate \in*flate"\, v. i. to expand; to fill; to distend.inflate v.
5. fill with gas or air; "inflate a balloons" [syn: blow up] [ant: deflate].
6. exaggerate or make bigger; "the charges were inflated" [syn: blow up, expand, amplify].
7. cause prices to rise by increasing the available currency or credit; "the war inflated the economy" [ant: deflate].
8. increase the amount or availability of, creating a rise in value; "inflate the currency" [ant: deflate].
9. become inflated; "the sails ballooned" [syn: balloon, billow].
10. Blown in; inflated.
11. To swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs.
12. Fig.: To swell; to puff up; to elate; as, to inflate one with pride or vanity.
13. To cause to become unduly expanded or increased; as, to inflate the currency.
14. To expand; to fill; to distend. fill with gas or air; "inflate a balloons" exaggerate or make bigger; "The charges were inflated" increase the amount or availability of, creating a rise in value; "inflate the currency" cause prices to rise by increasing the available currency or credit; "The war inflated the economy".
15. 1. If you inflate something such as a balloon or tyre, or if it inflates, it becomes bigger as it is filled with air or a gas. Stuart jumped into the sea and inflated the liferaft Don's lifejacket had failed to inflate.
16. If you say that someone inflates the price of something, or that the price inflates, you mean that the price increases. The promotion of a big release can inflate a film's final cost Clothing prices have not inflated as much as automobiles. = increase + inflated in·flat·ed They had to buy everything at inflated prices at the ranch store.
17. If someone inflates the amount or effect of something, they say it is bigger, better, or more important than it really is, usually so that they can profit from it. They inflated clients' medical treatment to defraud insurance companies.