Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - increase

~1 v 1 to become larger in amount, number, or degree  (The population of London increased dramatically in the first half of the century. | The pain increased steadily until I could think of nothing else. | increase in value/price/importance etc)  (Investments are certain to increase in value.) + by  (Food prices increased by 10% in less than a year.)  (- see raise1) 2 to make something larger in amount, number, or degree  (Now they want to increase our rents! | Political tensions that might increase the likelihood of a nuclear war.) - increasing adj  (There is increasing difficulty in finding trained staff.)  (- opposite decrease1, -compare reduce) ~2 n a rise in amount, number, or degree + in  (an increase in the crime rate) pay/price/tax increase  (Recent tax increases have affected the poor more than the rich. | be on the increase (=be increasing))  (Diseases like TB and pneumonia are on the increase.)