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Improve   /ɪmprˈuv/   Listen
verb
Improve  v. t.  
1.
To disprove or make void; to refute. (Obs.) "Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve."
2.
To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. (Obs.) "When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing."


Improve  v. t.  (past & past part. improved; pres. part. improving)  
1.
To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. "I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead."
2.
To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means. "We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us." "A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved." "The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity." "How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour." "Those moments were diligently improved." "True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion."
3.
To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; said with reference to what is bad. (R.) "We all have, I fear,... not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors."
Synonyms: To better; meliorate; ameliorate; advance; heighten; mend; correct; rectify; amend; reform.


Improve  v. i.  
1.
To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health. "We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence."
2.
To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse. "Domitian improved in cruelty."
3.
To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves.
To improve on or To improve upon, to make useful additions or amendments to, or changes in; to bring nearer to perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Improve" Quotes from Famous Books



... strengthen the people. They strengthen chiefly the present generation. The blight of the fact that acquired characters cannot be transmitted, meets us here. This improved environment can only slowly, if at all, improve the race, and every effort made in this direction must be ...
— The Meaning of Evolution • Samuel Christian Schmucker
... breakfast long after the others had finished. The next morning there was a letter waiting for him which had been readdressed on from Melchester. He was still in a sulk, and the contents of the epistle did not seem to improve his temper. He devoured his food in silence, and then went off by himself to smoke at ...
— Soldiers of the Queen • Harold Avery
... growing Northwest owed more to the rest of the world than it was likely to pay in half a century, its leaders saw that it must continue to expand its area and improve its economic life. Undoubtedly the one leader who best understood the needs of his region was Stephen A. Douglas, Senator from Illinois and perpetual candidate for the office of President of the United States. Young, active, and ...
— Expansion and Conflict • William E. Dodd
... lodged among the wonders which so deservedly excite the curiosity of the world, and proceeded to improve time, before the Fellahheen of the district should arrive to annoy us, by crowding ...
— Byeways in Palestine • James Finn
... this term must be used in the most favourable light; because, surrounded on every side by people who are wedded to their own customs, the Burmahs have a liberality and a desire to improve, which is very remarkable. I never met with any Burmah, not even a lad, who could not read and write; they allow any form of religion to be made use of, and churches of any description to be built by foreigners, but they do not like missionaries making converts of their own people; for as the ...
— Olla Podrida • Frederick Marryat (AKA Captain Marryat)


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