augment
verb /ɔːɡˈmɛnt 
/ [with object]
/ [with object]Make (something) greater by adding to it; increase: her secretarial work helped to augment her husband’s income...
- The workers are demanding all the increase go towards augmenting their base pay and that the present two-tier sick leave system be scrapped.
- The precision may be increased by augmenting the number of samples used.
- The new link features an expanded shop, revenue from which has become vital to augmenting the budget of any gallery.
Synonyms
increase, make larger, make bigger, make greater, add to, supplement, top up, build up, enlarge, expand, extend, raise, multiply, elevate, swell, inflate;
magnify, intensify, amplify, heighten, escalate;
worsen, make worse, exacerbate, aggravate, inflame, compound, reinforce;
improve, make better, boost, ameliorate, enhance, upgrade
informal up, jack up, hike up, hike, bump up, crank up, step up
noun /ˈɔːɡm(ə)nt / Linguistics
/ LinguisticsA vowel prefixed to past tenses of verbs in Greek and certain other Indo-European languages.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French augmenter (verb), augment (noun), or late Latin augmentare, from Latin augere 'to increase'.
auction from late 16th century:
The way in which bids increase in an auction is embodied in the word's origin, as it comes from Latin auctio ‘an increase’, from augere ‘to increase’, also the source of augment (Late Middle English) and author.