inflat

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Inflated; p. pr. & vb. n. Inflating. ] 1. To swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs. [ 1913 Webster ]

When passion's tumults in the bosom rise,
Inflate the features, and enrage the eyes. J. Scott of Amwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To swell; to puff up; to elate; as, to inflate one with pride or vanity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inflate themselves with some insane delight. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to become unduly expanded or increased; as, to inflate the currency. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. [ L. inflatus, p. p. of inflare to inflate; pref. in- in + flare to blow. See Blow to puff wind. ] Blown in; inflated. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To expand; to fill; to distend. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Filled, as with air or gas; blown up; distended; as, a balloon inflated with gas. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Turgid; swelling; puffed up; bombastic; pompous; as, an inflated style. [ 1913 Webster ]

Inflated and astrut with self-conceit. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Hollow and distended, as a perianth, corolla, nectary, or pericarp. Martyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Distended or enlarged fictitiously or without due cause; as, inflated prices; inflated expectations, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, inflates; as, the inflaters of the stock exchange. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a manner tending to inflate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. inflatio: cf. F. inflation. ] 1. The act or process of inflating, or the state of being inflated, as with air or gas; distention; expansion; enlargement. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being puffed up, as with pride; conceit; vanity. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Persistent expansion or increase in the general level of prices, usually caused by overissue of currency, and resulting in a reduced value of the currency. It is contrasted with deflation, and is when it occurs to a very high degree is called hyperinflation. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. One who favors an increased or very large issue of paper money. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]