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upgrade

[noun uhp-greyd; adjective, adverb uhp-greyd; verb uhp-greyd, uhp-greyd]
noun
  1. an incline going up in the direction of movement.
  2. an increase or improvement: an upgrade in the year's profit forecast.
  3. a new version, improved model, etc.: The company is offering an upgrade of its sports sedan.
  4. an increase or improvement in one's service, accommodations, privileges, or the like: If the ship isn't full we'll receive an upgrade to a deluxe stateroom.
  5. something, as a piece of equipment, that serves to improve or enhance: a full range of upgrades available for your computer.
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adjective
  1. uphill; of, pertaining to, on, or along an upgrade.
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adverb
  1. up a slope.
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verb (used with object), up·grad·ed, up·grad·ing.
  1. to promote to a higher grade or rank: He has been upgraded to senior vice president.
  2. to improve or enhance the quality or value of: to upgrade property by landscaping it.
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verb (used without object), up·grad·ed, up·grad·ing.
  1. to improve the quality, value, effectiveness, or performance of something: Buy this basic computer and upgrade whenever you're ready.
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Origin of upgrade

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; up- + grade
Related formsup·grad·a·ble, up·grade·a·ble, adjectiveup·grad·a·bil·i·ty, up·grade·a·bil·i·ty, nounup·grad·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for upgradeable

upgrade

verb (ʌpˈɡreɪd) (tr)
  1. to assign or promote (a person or job) to a higher professional rank or position
  2. to raise in value, importance, esteem, etc
  3. to improve (a breed of livestock) by crossing with a better strain
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noun (ˈʌpˌɡreɪd)
  1. US and Canadian an upward slope
  2. on the upgrade improving or progressing, as in importance, status, health, etc
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adjective
  1. US and Canadian going or sloping upwards
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adverb (ˈʌpˈɡreɪd)
  1. US and Canadian up an incline, hill, or slope
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Derived Formsupgrader, noun
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 upgradeable

upgrade

n.

1873, "upward slope," from up + grade. The meaning "upgraded version" is recorded from 1980; the verb in this sense is attested from 1920 (implied in upgrading).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper