inflate
/ɪnˈfleɪt/verb
usu. with obj.
1
- fill (a balloon, tyre, or other expandable structure) with air or gas so that it becomes distended给（气球、轮胎等可扩张物）充气。
1.1
- no obj. become distended in this way膨胀, 胀大。
2
- increase (something) by a large or excessive amount使大幅增加, 使极度增长：
objectives should be clearly set out so as not to duplicate work and inflate costs.
必须明确提出目标以避免重复工作和大幅增加成本。
2.1
- usu. as adj. inflated exaggerate夸张, 夸大：
you have a very inflated opinion of your worth.
你夸大了自身的价值。
2.2
- bring about inflation of (a currency) or in (an economy)使（通货）膨胀, 使（物价）暴涨。
派生词
inflatedly
adverbinflater
（亦作inflator）noun词源
late Middle English: from Latin inflat- 'blown into', from the verb inflare, from in- 'into' + flare 'to blow'.