fatten

American  

[fat-n] / ˈfæt n /

verb (used with object)

1. to make fat.

2. to feed (animals) abundantly before slaughter.

3. to enrich.

   to fatten the soil; to fatten one's pocketbook.

4. Cards.

   1. Poker. to increase the number of chips in (a pot).

   2. Pinochle. to play a card that scores high on (a trick) expected to be taken by a partner.

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verb (used without object)

1. to grow fat.

fatten British  

/ ˈfætən /

verb

1. to grow or cause to grow fat or fatter

2. (tr) to cause (an animal or fowl) to become fat by feeding it

3. (tr) to make fuller or richer

4. (tr) to enrich (soil) by adding fertilizing agents

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Other Word Forms

• fattenable adjective
• fattener noun
• fattening adjective
• overfatten verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of fatten

First recorded in 1545–55; fat + -en ¹

Example Sentences

It’s also possible that retailers, figuring that consumers would expect to pay more for tariffed washing machines and would assume the same effect held for dryers, charged more for the latter to fatten their profits.

From Los Angeles Times

"It is good, isn't it? It's fattening, though. All that cream."

From Literature

Every time the political world thinks his career has ended, he manages to rise again, rebuilding his audience and fattening his bank accounts.

From Salon

Instead, the company said, the measure is aimed at tackling a perennial problem in California’s legal system: attorneys pushing car crash victims into expensive surgeries in order to fatten their fees.

From Los Angeles Times

And I was mindful to do a good job with the marketing for Mrs. Wigginbottom—and leave time to barter biscuits for more newspapers and fatten up that orange tomcat on the back porch.

From Literature

Related Words

• augment
• broaden
• build up
• swell