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inflate

[in-fleyt]
verb (used with object), in·flat·ed, in·flat·ing.
  1. to distend; swell or puff out; dilate: The king cobra inflates its hood.
  2. to cause to expand or distend with air or gas: to inflate a balloon.
  3. to puff up with pride, satisfaction, etc.
  4. to elate.
  5. Economics. to expand (money, prices, an economy, etc.) unduly in amount, value, or size; affect with inflation.
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verb (used without object), in·flat·ed, in·flat·ing.
  1. to become inflated.
  2. to increase, especially suddenly and substantially: The $10 subscription has inflated to $25.
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Origin of inflate

1470–80; < Latin inflātus past participle of inflāre to blow on or into, puff out, equivalent to in- in-2 + flā- blow2 + -tus past participle suffix
Related formsin·flat·er, in·fla·tor, nouno·ver·in·flate, verb (used with object), o·ver·in·flat·ed, o·ver·in·flat·ing.re·in·flate, verb, re·in·flat·ed, re·in·flat·ing.

Synonyms for inflate

1. See expand.

Antonyms for inflate

1. deflate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for inflator

inflate

verb
  1. to expand or cause to expand by filling with gas or airshe needed to inflate the tyres
  2. (tr) to cause to increase excessively; puff up; swellto inflate one's opinion of oneself
  3. (tr) to cause inflation of (prices, money, etc)
  4. (tr) to raise in spirits; elate
  5. (intr) to undergo economic inflation
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Derived Formsinflatedly, adverbinflatedness, nouninflater or inflator, noun

Word Origin for inflate

C16: from Latin inflāre to blow into, from flāre to blow
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

Word Origin and History for inflator

inflate

v.

early 15c., "cause to swell," from Latin inflatus, past participle of inflare "to blow into, inflate" (see inflation). Economics sense from 1844. In some senses a back-formation from inflation. Related: Inflatable; inflated; inflating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper