enhance verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of enhance verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

enhance

verb
 
/ɪnˈhɑːns/
 
/ɪnˈhæns/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they enhance
 
/ɪnˈhɑːns/
 
/ɪnˈhæns/
he / she / it enhances
 
/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪz/
 
/ɪnˈhænsɪz/
past simple enhanced
 
/ɪnˈhɑːnst/
 
/ɪnˈhænst/
past participle enhanced
 
/ɪnˈhɑːnst/
 
/ɪnˈhænst/
-ing form enhancing
 
/ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ/
 
/ɪnˈhænsɪŋ/
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  1. enhance something to increase or further improve the good quality, value or status of somebody/something
    • This is an opportunity to enhance the reputation of the company.
    • things that can significantly enhance the quality of your life
    • The runner says he's never used steroids to enhance his performance.
    • The new initiative will enhance our ability to respond to threats abroad.
    • The project was designed to enhance the experience of museum visitors.
    • the skilled use of make-up to enhance your best features
    • Printing in this way saves time and greatly enhances productivity.
    • These latest discoveries have further enhanced our understanding of the origins of the universe.
    Extra Examples
    • The attractiveness of the book is much enhanced by Mark Stevens' drawings.
    • The images have been digitally enhanced.
    • reforms designed to enhance market efficiency
    • Most people seek to enhance their status at work in whatever ways they can.
    • The images can be enhanced using digital technology.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • considerably
    • dramatically
    • greatly
    verb + enhance
    • can
    • could
    • may
    phrases
    • digitally enhanced
    • surgically enhanced
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English (formerly also as inhance): from Anglo-Norman French enhauncer, based on Latin in- (expressing intensive force) + altus ‘high’. The word originally meant ‘elevate’ (literally and figuratively), later ‘exaggerate, make appear greater’, also ‘raise the value or price of something’. Current senses date from the early 16th cent.
See enhance in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee enhance in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
glimpse
noun
 
 
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