Augment
/ɔːɡˈment/
verbB2
Definition
Augment means to increase or improve something by adding more parts or qualities. It is often used when you make something bigger, stronger, or better than it was before by adding something extra.
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See It in Action
To increase the size, amount, or value of something by adding to it
- •The company plans to augment its staff to handle more customers.
- •She augmented her income by working part-time on weekends.
- •The artist augmented the painting with bright colors to make it stand out.
To improve the quality or strength of something by adding extra parts
- •The soldier augmented his protection with new armor.
- •Technology can augment human abilities in many ways.
- •They augmented the sound system to make the music louder and clearer.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'augment' like 'add' (A1 word), but with the idea of making something better or bigger in an important way
- ✓Picture adding more blocks to a small tower to make it taller and stronger
- ✓It's the feeling when you get extra help or tools that make your work easier or better
- ✓Sounds like 'augment' → imagine someone saying 'Oh, go meant to add more!' like they planned to add something important
- ✓Think of superheroes who get new powers or gadgets that make them stronger—this is augmenting their abilities
- ✓NOT like 'fix' (repair something broken)—augment means add more, not just repair
- ✓NOT like 'replace' (take away old, put new)—augment means add on top of what already exists
- ✓NOT like 'grow' (natural increase)—augment is usually a deliberate action by someone
Try Other Words
- •Increase: make something larger or more (Use when focusing on size or amount increase)
- •Enhance: improve the quality or value of something (Use when focusing on improvement rather than just size)
- •Boost: give extra help or power to something (Use in informal contexts or when energy or strength is added)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'aug-' (from Latin 'augere' meaning 'to increase') + '-ment' (a suffix forming nouns, but here verb form comes from root)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'augmentare,' meaning to increase or make larger
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1400s, originally meaning to make bigger or more important
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in formal or technical contexts to describe increasing or improving something by adding to it
Reflect & Connect
•In what situations might you want to augment something instead of just fixing or replacing it?
•How can technology augment your daily life or work?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company decided to augment its workforce ___ the holiday season to manage more customers.
2.When you augment a photo with filters, you ___ its appearance to look better.
3.Augmenting your skills often requires ___ learning and practice.
4.Unlike repairing, to augment something means to ___ it by adding more parts or features.
5.The new software was designed to augment human intelligence ___ replace it.
6.To augment sound quality, you might ___ extra speakers or use special equipment.
7.If you only make a small change, you might add, but to augment means to ___ the original amount or size.