enhancement

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ɪˈnhɑːnsmənt/ 🇺🇸 /ɛˈnhænsmənt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act or process of enhancing, improving, or increasing the quality, value, or extent of something.; A feature or improvement added to something to make it better or more effective.; In computing, an improvement or addition to a system, program, or hardware that increases its capabilities or performance.; In image processing, the technique of improving the visual quality or interpretability of an image by adjusting contrast, brightness, or sharpness.; In medicine or biology, the artificial improvement of human physical or mental capabilities beyond what is considered normal, such as through genetic modification or pharmacological means.; In immunology, a phenomenon where the presence of certain antibodies facilitates the entry of a virus into host cells, worsening the infection (antibody-dependent enhancement).; In real estate or property law, an increase in the value of a property due to improvements or external factors.; In cosmetics or aesthetic medicine, a procedure or treatment designed to improve one's physical appearance.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: enhancements

Collocations

performance enhancementquality enhancementimage enhancementmake enhancementsenhancement of

Derivatives

enhanceenhancedenhancingenhancerenhancive

Synonyms

improvementaugmentationenrichmentupgradeboostrefinement

Antonyms

degradationdeteriorationreductiondiminishment

Commonly confused

improvement
EN: 'Improvement' is more general and everyday; 'enhancement' often implies adding value or features to something already good.
augmentation
EN: 'Augmentation' emphasizes increasing size or quantity; 'enhancement' emphasizes improving quality or value.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the 'e' before '-ment': it is 'enhancement', not 'enhancment'. Also note the 'h' after 'en-'.

💬 Examples

  1. The enhancement of the city's public transportation system took several years to complete.

  2. The software update included several enhancements to the user interface.

  3. The new processor offers significant enhancements in speed and energy efficiency.

  4. The forensic team used digital enhancement to make the license plate visible in the surveillance footage.

  5. The ethical debate over cognitive enhancement through nootropic drugs continues among bioethicists.

  6. Researchers investigated whether the vaccine might cause antibody-dependent enhancement in subsequent infections.

  7. The construction of the new park led to a significant enhancement in nearby property values.

  8. She opted for a subtle lip enhancement rather than a more dramatic surgical procedure.