Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Increase

Increase , intransitive verb

[Old English incresen, encresen, enrescen, Old French encreistre, from Latin increscere; pref. in- in + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and compare Decrease.]

1.
To become greater or more in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth; to grow; to augment; to advance; -- opposed to decrease.
The waters increased and bare up the ark. — Gen. vii. 17
He must increase, but I must decrease. — John iii. 30
The heavens forbid But that our loves and comforts should increase, Even as our days do grow! — Shakespeare
2.
To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
Fishes are more numerous or increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn. — Sir M. Hale
3.
(Astronomy) To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases.
Collocations (1)
Increasing function (Mathematics) , a function whose value increases when that of the variable increases, and decreases when the latter is diminished; also called a monotonically increasing function.

Increase , transitive verb

To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount, etc.; to add to; to extend; to lengthen; to enhance; to aggravate; as, to increase one's possessions, influence.
I will increase the famine. — Ezek. v. 16
Make denials Increase your services. — Shakespeare

Increase (?; 277) , noun

[Old English encres, encresse. See Increase, v. i.]

1.
Addition or enlargement in size, extent, quantity, number, intensity, value, substance, etc.; augmentation; growth.
As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on. — Shakespeare
For things of tender kind for pleasure made Shoot up with swift increase, and sudden are decay'd. — Dryden
2.
That which is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth; produce; profit; interest.
Take thou no usury of him, or increase. — Lev. xxv. 36
Let them not live to taste this land's increase. — Shakespeare
3.
Progeny; issue; offspring.
All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age. — 1 Sam. ii. 33
4.
Generation. [Obsolete]
Organs of increase. — Shakespeare
5.
(Astronomy) The period of increasing light, or luminous phase; the waxing; -- said of the moon.
Seeds, hair, nails, hedges, and herbs will grow soonest if set or cut in the increase of the moon. — Bacon
Collocations (1)
Increase twist , the twixt of a rifle groove in which the angle of twist increases from the breech to the muzzle.