Library / English Dictionary

ENHANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Increase

Example:

heighten the tension

Synonyms:

enhance; heighten; raise

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "enhance" is one way to...):

compound; deepen; heighten; intensify (make more intense, stronger, or more marked)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enhance"):

potentiate (increase the effect of or act synergistically with (a drug or a physiological or biochemical phenomenon))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

enhancive (intensifying by augmentation and enhancement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make better or more attractive

Example:

This sauce will enhance the flavor of the meat

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "enhance" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "enhance"):

follow up (increase the effectiveness or success of by further action)

retouch; touch up (alter so as to produce a more desirable appearance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

enhancement (an improvement that makes something more agreeable)

enhancer (anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities)

enhancive (serving an aesthetic purpose in beautifying the body)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Aminobenzoate potassium increases oxygen uptake at the tissue level and may enhance monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, which requires oxygen as a substrate.

(Aminobenzoate Potassium, NCI Thesaurus)

The sound stimulation significantly enhanced deep sleep in participants and their scores on a memory test.

(Sound Waves Boost Older Adult' Memory, Deep Sleep, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Prior research has shown TMAO enhances cholesterol deposits into cells of the artery wall.

(Study links frequent red meat consumption to high levels of chemical associated with heart disease, National Institutes of Health)

MASL1 allele is a potential oncogene whose expression is enhanced in some malignant fibrous histiocytomas.

(MFHAS1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

An RGD-4C-modified, infectivity-enhanced, bicistronic type 5 adenovirus expressing herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene, a therapeutic suicide gene, and the somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) gene with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Ad5.SSTR/TK.RGD, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein may enhance ubiquitin ligase activity.

(Melanoma-Associated Antigen 6, NCI Thesaurus)

The hydrochloride salt of alfentanil, a synthetic short-acting opioid with analgesic and local anesthesia enhancing activity.

(Alfentanil Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

In addition, AAT enhances levels of cAMP and activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A. AAT, a 52kD protein and serine protease inhibitor, belongs to the serpin superfamily.

(Alpha-1-Proteinase Inhibitor Human, NCI Thesaurus)

TRICOM may enhance antigen presentation and activate cytotoxic T-cells.

(ALVAC(2)-NY-ESO-1 (M)/TRICOM Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)

Aminobenzoic acid may also increase oxygen uptake at the tissue level and may enhance monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity to promote the degradation of serotonin, which in excess, may lead to fibrotic changes.

(Aminobenzoic acid, NCI Thesaurus)