reinforcement
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of making a structure or material stronger by adding something to it.
the physical strengthening of an object or material through the addition of supportive elements.
Simple“The old bridge needed steel reinforcement to handle the weight of modern trucks.”
In context“Engineers recommended carbon-fiber reinforcement for the concrete pillars to ensure the building could withstand seismic activity.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
extra soldiers, planes, or ships sent to help an army during a battle.
additional personnel or equipment sent to augment a military force during an operation.
Simple“The captain called for reinforcements when he realized they were outnumbered.”
In context“The arrival of aerial reinforcements turned the tide of the battle, providing the ground troops with much-needed cover.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
a reward or consequence that makes a person or animal want to repeat an action.
the process of encouraging or establishing a pattern of behavior by offering a reward or removing a negative stimulus.
Simple“Giving the dog a treat for sitting is a form of positive reinforcement.”
In context“The study examined how intermittent reinforcement schedules can make a specific behavior more resistant to extinction over time.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“In Cali, the country’s third largest city, authorities reported multiple landslides with people trapped and requested reinforcements for rescue operations .”
“In Cali, the country’s third largest city, authorities have reported multiple landslides with people trapped and have requested reinforcements for rescue operations .”
From reinforce + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.