definitions

enhance

[ en-hans, -hahns ]
/ ɛnˈhæns, -ˈhɑns /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR enhance ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), en·hanced, en·hanc·ing.

to raise to a higher degree; intensify; magnify: The candlelight enhanced her beauty.
to raise the value or price of: Rarity enhances the worth of old coins.

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RELATED WORDS

improvement, increase, enrichment, intensification

Nearby words

engrossed bill, engrossing, engrossment, engulf, enhalo, enhance, enhanced oil recovery, enhanced radiation weapon, enhancer, enharmonic, enharmonic modulation

Origin of enhance

1325–75; Middle English enhauncen < Anglo-French enhauncer, apparently for Old French enhaucer, equivalent to en- en-1 + haucer “to raise” (French hausser) from the unattested Vulgar Latin altiāre (derivative of Latin altus “high,” with h- < Germanic; see haughty), though -n- is unexplained

Related forms

en·hance·ment, nounen·hanc·ive, adjectiveself-en·hance·ment, nounun·en·hanced, adjective

Synonym study

2. See elevate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for enhancement

British Dictionary definitions for enhancement

enhance

/ (ɪnˈhɑːns) /

verb

(tr) to intensify or increase in quality, value, power, etc; improve; augment

Derived Forms

enhancement, nounenhancer, nounenhancive, adjective

Word Origin for enhance

C14: from Old French enhaucier, from en- 1 + haucier to raise, from Vulgar Latin altiāre (unattested), from Latin altus high
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012