inflate
UK/in'fleit/US
TOEFLGREB2
Definitions
v.
To fill something with air or gas so it swells; to make it bigger.
给…充气，使膨胀。
v.
To make a number, price, or reputation seem larger or more important than it really is.
（人为地）抬高，虚增（数字、价格、声誉等）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedin- (into) + flāre (blow) = 'blow air into.' You inflate a tire by forcing air in until it swells. The same picture powers the figurative sense: to inflate prices or an ego is to puff them up bigger than they really are.
Root flat still carries 4 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.inflate a tire给轮胎充气
- 2.inflate a balloon给气球充气
- 3.inflate prices抬高价格
- 4.inflate figures虚增数字
- 5.inflate an ego膨胀自我
Example Sentences
- 1.
It took ten minutes to inflate the air mattress with the foot pump.
- 2.
Critics say the company inflated its sales figures before the IPO.
- 3.
Don't let a little praise inflate your sense of importance.