Topic: ECONOMICS
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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | , past participle of inflare, from flare 'to blow' |
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in‧flate
1 [intransitive and transitive] to fill something with air or gas so it becomes larger, or to become filled with air or gas : 
It took us half an hour to inflate the dinghy.Her life jacket failed to inflate.
It took us half an hour to inflate the dinghy.Her life jacket failed to inflate.2 [transitive] to make something seem more important or impressive than it really is : The success further inflated his self-confidence.
The success further inflated his self-confidence. be grossly/vastly/hugely inflated The numbers of people involved have been grossly inflated by the media.
The numbers of people involved have been grossly inflated by the media.3 [intransitive and transitive] technicalBPE to increase in price or make something increase in price : Hotels often inflate prices at particular times of the year. Costs were inflating.
Hotels often inflate prices at particular times of the year.Costs were inflating.