INFLATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inflate mean? 

• INFLATE (verb)
  The verb INFLATE has 5 senses:

1. exaggerate or make bigger

2. fill with gas or air

3. cause prices to rise by increasing the available currency or credit

4. increase the amount or availability of, creating a rise in value

5. become inflated

  Familiarity information: INFLATE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INFLATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they inflate    ... he / she / it inflates   
Past simple: inflated   
Past participle: inflated   
-ing form: inflating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exaggerate or make bigger

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

amplify; blow up; expand; inflate

Context example:

The charges were inflated

Hypernyms (to "inflate" is one way to...):

increase (make bigger or more)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inflate"):

puff up (make larger or distend)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fill with gas or air

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

blow up; inflate

Context example:

inflate a balloons

Hypernyms (to "inflate" is one way to...):

expand (make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inflate"):

reflate (inflate again)

billow; heave; surge (rise and move, as in waves or billows)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

deflate (become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air)

Derivation:

inflatable (designed to be filled with air or gas)

inflater (an air pump operated by hand to inflate something (as a tire))

inflation (the act of filling something with air)

inflator (an air pump operated by hand to inflate something (as a tire))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause prices to rise by increasing the available currency or credit

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The war inflated the economy

Hypernyms (to "inflate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inflate"):

reflate (economics: raise demand, expand the money supply, or raise prices, after a period of deflation)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Antonym:

deflate (produce deflation in)

Derivation:

inflation (a general and progressive increase in prices)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Increase the amount or availability of, creating a rise in value

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

inflate the currency

Hypernyms (to "inflate" is one way to...):

bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down (cut down on; make a reduction in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody

Antonym:

deflate (reduce or cut back the amount or availability of, creating a decline in value or prices)

Derivation:

inflation (a general and progressive increase in prices)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Become inflated

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

balloon; billow; inflate

Context example:

The sails ballooned

Hypernyms (to "inflate" is one way to...):

expand (become larger in size or volume or quantity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inflate"):

reflate (become inflated again)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

inflation (the act of filling something with air)

 Context examples 

They include: • Distending, or inflating, the bladder • Bathing the inside of the bladder with a drug solution • Oral medicines • Electrical nerve stimulation • Physical therapy • Lifestyle changes • Bladder training • In rare cases, surgery

(Interstitial Cystitis, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

A surgical instrument is introduced into the spine with a balloon that is inflated to expand the bone.

(Kyphoplasty, NCI Thesaurus)

In emphysema, the alveoli become abnormally inflated, damaging their walls and making it harder to breathe.

(Emphysema, NCI Dictionary)

An increase of the greatest rate of flow that can be achieved during forced expiration beginning with the lungs fully inflated.

(Increased Peak Expiratory Flowrate, NCI Thesaurus)

A decrease of the greatest rate of flow that can be achieved during forced expiration beginning with the lungs fully inflated.

(Decreased Peak Expiratory Flowrate, Food and Drug Administration)

Failure of the lung to expand (inflate) completely.

(Atelectasis, NCI Dictionary)

When the tube is in place, the doctor inflates the balloon to push the plaque outward against the wall of the artery.

(Angioplasty, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Dilation of the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart by inflating a balloon.

(Mitral Balloon Valvotomy, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

The inflated membrane shot up with frightful velocity into the air.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The leaves of garlic plants are neither inflated like onion leaves nor tubular like those of bunching onions.

(Allium sativum, NCI Thesaurus)