—inflate /ɪnˈfleɪt/
verb [I or T] (FILL WITH AIR) ↑Verb Endings for inflate
► F0 to cause to increase in size by filling with air: » He inflated the balloons with helium.» We watch the hot-air balloon slowly inflate.Thesaurus+: ↑Enlarging and inflating , ↑Becoming biggerWord Builder:–Nouns: inflation–Adjectives: inflatable, inflationary, inflated–Verbs: inflate, deflateverb [T] (MAKE LARGER) ↑Verb Endings for inflate
► F0 to make something larger or more important: » They inflated their part in the rescue every time they told the story.Thesaurus+: ↑Exaggerating and playing down , ↑Praising and applaudingWord Builder:–Nouns: inflation–Adjectives: inflatable, inflationary, inflated–Verbs: inflate, deflate