reinforce

reinforce
Reenforce Re`["e]n*force" (-f?rs"), v. t. [Pref. re- + enforce: cf. F. renforcer.] 1. To strengthen with new force, assistance, material, or support; as, to re["e]nforce an argument; to re["e]nforce a garment; especially, to strengthen with additional troops, as an army or a fort, or with additional ships, as a fleet. [Written also {reinforce}.] [1913 Webster]

2. (Psychology) To increase the likelihood that (a specific behavior) will be repeated by giving a reward or punishment to a person or animal; as, to reenforce the students' willingness to study by giving awards for good grades. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • reinforce — UK US /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs/ verb [T] ► PRODUCTION to make a material or structure stronger by adding something to it: »The containers have been reinforced with steel bands. »reinforced concrete ► to make an idea or belief stronger: reinforce the… …   Financial and business terms

  • reinforce — [rē΄in fôrs′] vt. reinforced, reinforcing [ RE + inforce, var. of ENFORCE] 1. to strengthen (a military, naval, or air force) with additional troops, ships, planes, etc. 2. to increase the number or amount of 3. to strengthen or make stronger, as …   English World dictionary

  • Reinforce — Re in*force ( f?rs ), v. t. See {Re[ e]nforce}, v. t. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Reinforce — Re in*force , n. See {Re[ e]nforce}, n. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • reinforce — I verb augment, bolster, boost, brace, buttress, conflrmare, energize, fortify, intensify, reconstitute, redouble, reestablish, refurbish, reinvigorate, reorganize, replenish, strengthen, supplement, support II index accumulate (enlarge), aid,… …   Law dictionary

  • reinforce — c.1600, originally in military sense, from RE (Cf. re ) again + ENFORCE (Cf. enforce) (Cf. RE ENFORCE (Cf. re enforce)). Related: Reinforced; reinforcing …   Etymology dictionary

  • reinforce — *strengthen, invigorate, fortify, energize Analogous words: *increase, augment, multiply, enlarge: *support, sustain, prop, bolster, buttress …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • reinforce — [v] strengthen, augment add fuel to fire*, add to, back up, beef up*, bolster, boost, build up, buttress, carry, emphasize, energize, enlarge, fortify, harden, heat up, hype, increase, lend a hand, multiply, pick up, pillar, prop, prop up, punch… …   New thesaurus

  • reinforce — ► VERB 1) strengthen (a military force) with additional personnel or material. 2) give added strength to. DERIVATIVES reinforcer noun. ORIGIN French renforcer, influenced by inforce, an obsolete spelling of ENFORCE(Cf. ↑enforcer) …   English terms dictionary

  • reinforce — [[t]ri͟ːɪnfɔ͟ː(r)s[/t]] reinforces, reinforcing, reinforced 1) VERB If something reinforces a feeling, situation, or process, it makes it stronger or more intense. [V n] A stronger European Parliament would, they fear, only reinforce the power of …   English dictionary

  • reinforce */*/ — UK [ˌriːɪnˈfɔː(r)s] / US [ˌrɪɪnˈfɔrs] verb [transitive] Word forms reinforce : present tense I/you/we/they reinforce he/she/it reinforces present participle reinforcing past tense reinforced past participle reinforced 1) a) to make an idea,… …   English dictionary

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