inflate
//ɪnˈfleɪt//
Verb
inflateInfinitive
inflatePresent tense
inflatedPast tense
inflatedPast participle
inflatingPresent participle
inflatesThird-person singular
1
To fill something with air or gas, causing it to expand or swell.
He used a pump to inflate the bicycle tire.
2
To increase something artificially, especially prices, costs, or figures.
The company was accused of inflating its profits to attract investors.
3
To exaggerate or make something seem more important than it really is.
The media tends to inflate the importance of celebrity news.