improving

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im·prove

(ĭm-pro͞ov′)

v. im·proved, im·prov·ing, im·proves

v.tr.

1. To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition; make better: Exercise can improve your health.

2. To increase the productivity or value of (land or property): improved the house by adding a bathroom.

v.intr.

1. To become better: Economic conditions are improving.

2. To make beneficial additions or changes: You can improve on the translation of that text.

[Middle English improwen, to enclose land for cultivation, from Anglo-Norman emprouwer, to turn to profit : Old French en-, causative pref. (from Latin in-; see in-²) + Old French prou, profit (from Late Latin prōde, advantageous; see proud).]

im·prov′a·ble adj.

im·prov′a·bly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

improving

(ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ)

adj

becoming bettertending to educate or edifymaking things better

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Adj.

improving - getting higher or more vigorous; "its an up market"; "an improving economy"

rising - advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status; "a rising trend"; "a rising market"

Translations

improving

[ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ] ADJ [book, programme] → edificante, instructivo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

improving

adj → informativ, lehrreich; book also → bildend; (= morally improving) → erbaulich

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

improving

[ɪmˈpruːvɪŋ] adj (book) → edificante

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in classic literature ?

My figures are as big as the life, and they represent the life in every particular; and I question not but people rise from my little drama as much improved as they do from the great." "I would by no means degrade the ingenuity of your profession," answered Jones, "but I should have been glad to have seen my old acquaintance master Punch, for all that; and so far from improving, I think, by leaving out him and his merry wife Joan, you have spoiled your puppet-show."

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He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of improving it.

I shall not lose you so soon, and Edward will have greater opportunity of improving that natural taste for your favourite pursuit which must be so indispensably necessary to your future felicity.

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The same doubt occurs if music has a power of improving the manners; for why should they on this account themselves learn it, and not reap every advantage of regulating the passions or forming a judgment [1339b] on the merits of the performance by hearing others, as the Lacedaemonians; for they, without having ever learnt music, are yet able to judge accurately what is good and what is bad; the same reasoning may be applied if music is supposed to be the amusement of those who live an elegant and easy life, why should they learn themselves, and not rather enjoy the benefit of others' skill.

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Rushworth was returned with his head full of the subject, and very eager to be improving his own place in the same way; and though not saying much to the purpose, could talk of nothing else.

For my own part, if I had anything within the fiftieth part of the size of Sotherton, I should be always planting and improving, for naturally I am excessively fond of it.

The subject of improving grounds, meanwhile, was still under consideration among the others; and Mrs.

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"This is our point, Willie," he would say; "but he is improving so steadily that I think we shall see a change for the better in the spring."

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Macallan's room, any books or pamphlets telling of remedies used for improving a bad complexion?" The witness answered, "No."

Eustace Macallan used the arsenic which--her husband purchased for the purpose of improving the defects of her complexion?"

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After salutation, observing me to look earnestly upon a frame, which took up the greatest part of both the length and breadth of the room, he said, "Perhaps I might wonder to see him employed in a project for improving speculative knowledge, by practical and mechanical operations.

We next went to the school of languages, where three professors sat in consultation upon improving that of their own country.