# augmentation

/ˌɑɡmɛnˈteɪʃən/ (US) · /ˌɔːɡmɛntˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/augmentation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. general increase or addition

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

the act of making something bigger or better by adding to it.

For teachers: the process of increasing the size, amount, or degree of something by adding a supplementary component.

- The company announced an augmentation of its staff to handle the new project.
- The augmentation of the existing security protocols was deemed necessary following the recent breach of the internal database.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of'.

### 2. medical enlargement

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a medical operation to make a part of the body larger.

For teachers: a surgical procedure intended to increase the size or volume of a specific body part.

- She decided to undergo breast augmentation surgery after consulting with her doctor.
- Advancements in cosmetic surgery have led to safer techniques for soft-tissue augmentation using synthetic fillers.

Usage: Frequently appears in the compound 'breast augmentation'.

### 3. musical technique

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

making a melody slower by making each note last longer.

For teachers: a compositional device where the rhythmic values of a theme or melody are proportionally lengthened.

- The composer used augmentation to make the main theme sound more grand.
- In the final section of the fugue, the subject appears in augmentation, played by the bass instruments at half the original speed.

Usage: Usually functions as an uncountable noun in this context.

## Examples

- The surgeon discussed the breast augmentation procedure with the patient.
- The company focused on the augmentation of its existing software with new artificial intelligence features to stay competitive.
- In musical composition, augmentation involves the lengthening of time values of notes in a melodic line, effectively slowing the theme while maintaining its original intervallic structure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.