Word: augment (verb)

Associations

The word "augment" means to make something bigger or better by adding to it. It is often used when you increase the size, amount, or quality of something.

• Example 1: "She took a course to augment her skills." This means she added to her skills to make them better.
• Example 2: "The company augmented its workforce by hiring more people." Here, it means the company increased the number of workers.
• Example 3: "They used technology to augment the experience." This means technology made the experience better or more advanced.

Synonym: "increase" is a common synonym. The difference is that "augment" often suggests improving or adding value, not just making bigger in number.

Substitution

You can use words like "enhance," "increase," "boost," or "expand" depending on the context.

• "Enhance" focuses more on improving quality.
• "Increase" is more general about making bigger.
• "Boost" is often used for improving performance or energy.
• "Expand" means making something physically bigger or more extensive.

Deconstruction

• Root: "augment" comes from Latin "augere," which means "to increase" or "to grow."
• Prefix: None in this word.
• Suffix: None in this word. The word is directly taken from Latin, showing the idea of growth or increase.

Inquiry

• Can you think of something in your life that you want to augment or improve?
• How would you use "augment" when talking about technology or learning?
• What is the difference between augmenting something and just increasing it?