INCRE'ASE, v.i. [L. incresco; in and cresco, to grow.]

1. To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity or amount; as, to increase wealth or treasure; to increase a sum or value.
2. To advance in quality; to add to any quality or affection; as, to increase the strength of moral habits; to increase love, zeal or passion.
3. To extend; to lengthen; as, to increase distance.
4. To extend; to spread; as, to increase fame or renown.
5. To aggravate; as, to increase guilt or trespass.

1. Augmentation; a growing larger; extension. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Is. ix.
2. Increment; profit; interest; that which is added to the original stock. Take thou no interest of him or increase; but fear thy God. Lev. xxv.
3. Produce, as of land. Then shall the earth yield her increase. Ps. lxvii.
4. Progeny; issue; offspring. All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age. 1 Sam. ii.
5. Generation. Shak.
6. The waxing of the moon; the augmentation of the luminous part of the moon, presented to the inhabitants of the earth. Seeds, hair, nails, hedges and herbs will grow soonest, if set or cut in the increase of the moon. Bacon.
7. Augmentation of strength or violence; as, increase of heat, love or other passion; increase of force.
8. Augmentation of degree; as, increase of happiness or misery.

1. To become greater in bulk or quantity; to grow; to augment; as plants. Hence, to become more in number; to advance in value, or in any quality good or bad. Animal and vegetable bodies increase by natural growth; wealth increases by industry; heat increases, as the sun advances towards the meridian; a multitude increases by accession of numbers; knowledge increases with age and study; passion and enmity increase by irritation, and misery increases with vice. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another. 1 Thess. iii.
2. To become more violent; as, the fever increases; the pain increases; cold, wind or a storm increases.
3. To become more bright or vivid; as, the light increases.
4. To swell; to rise. The waters increased and bore up the ark. Gen. vii.
5. To swell; to become louder, as sound.
6. To become of more esteem and authority. He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii.
7. To enlarge, as the enlightened part of the moon's disk.

1. To become greater or more in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth; to grow; to augment; to advance; -- opposed to decrease.
   
   

   The waters increased and bare up the ark. Gen. vii. 17.

   He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30.

   The heavens forbid
   But that our loves and comforts should increase,
   Even as our days do grow! Shak.

2. To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount, etc.; to add to; to extend; to lengthen; to enhance; to aggravate; as, to increase one's possessions, influence.
   
   

   I will increase the famine. Ezek. v. 16.

   Make denials
   Increase your services. Shak.

3. Addition or enlargement in size, extent, quantity, number, intensity, value, substance, etc.; augmentation; growth.
   
   

   As if increase of appetite had grown
   By what it fed on. Shak.

   For things of tender kind for pleasure made
   Shoot up with swift increase, and sudden are decay'd. Dryden.

4. To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
   
   

   Fishes are more numerous or increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn. Sir M. Hale.

5. That which is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth; produce; profit; interest.
   
   

   Take thou no usury of him, or increase. Lev. xxv. 36.

   Let them not live to taste this land's increase. Shak.

6. To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases.
   
   

   Increasing function (Math.), a function whose value increases when that of the variable increases, and decreases when the latter is diminished.

   Syn. -- To enlarge; extend; multiply; expand; develop; heighten; amplify; raise; enhance; spread; aggravate; magnify; augment; advance. -- To Increase, Enlarge, Extend. Enlarge implies to make larger or broader in size. Extend marks the progress of enlargement so as to have wider boundaries. Increase denotes enlargement by growth and internal vitality, as in the case of plants. A kingdom is enlarged by the addition of new territories; the mind is enlarged by knowledge. A kingdom is extended when its boundaries are carried to a greater distance from the center. A man's riches, honors, knowledge, etc., are increased by accessions which are made from time to time.

7. Progeny; issue; offspring.
   
   

   All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age. 1 Sam. ii. 33.

8. Generation.
   
   
   [Obs.] "Organs of increase." Shak.
9. The period of increasing light, or luminous phase; the waxing; -- said of the moon.
   
   

   Seeds, hair, nails, hedges, and herbs will grow soonest if set or cut in the increase of the moon. Bacon.

   Increase twist, the twixt of a rifle groove in which the angle of twist increases from the breech to the muzzle.

   Syn. -- Enlargement; extension; growth; development; increment; addition; accession; production.