different between greater vs greaten

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???e?t?(?)/
• (US, Canada) enPR: gr?t'?(?), IPA^(key): [???e???]
• Rhymes: -e?t?(?)
• Homophone: grater

Adjective

greater

1. comparative form of great: more great

   greater yellowlegs
2. Used in referring to a region or place together with the surrounding area pertaining to it; (of a city) metropolitan.

   Greater China includes many areas north of the Great Wall.

   Greater New York includes nearby parts of three states as well as the City itself.

Derived terms

Related terms

• great
• greatest

Translations

Anagrams

• Traeger, Tregear, regrate

English

Etymology

From Middle English gretnen (“to become great, be pregnant”), equivalent to great +? -en.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???e?t??n/

Verb

greaten (third-person singular simple present greatens, present participle greatening, simple past and past participle greatened)

1. (intransitive) To become great or large; increase; dilate.
2. (intransitive, obsolete) To become great with child; become pregnant.
3. (transitive) To make great; magnify; enlarge; increase.
   • 1685, Thomas Ken, sermon preached […] at Whitehall

     one studies how how to please his prince, the other how to greaten and secure him.

   • 1860, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Parting Lovers

     No blushes! all my body's blood / Has gone to greaten this poor heart, / That, loving, we may part.

Antonyms

• decrease, lessen

See also

• engreaten

Anagrams

• grantee, negater, reagent, rentage, reägent