inflate
in-FLAYT
/ɪnˈfleɪt/
To swell or expand with air or gas, especially regarding tires, sports balls, or balloons.
In automotive contexts, means adding pressurized air to tires until reaching recommended pounds per square inch (PSI).
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'inflare' (to blow into), combining 'in-' (into) with 'flare' (to blow). It originally described blowing wind into sails or air into bladders before being applied to pneumatic rubber tires in the late 1800s.
Word relationships
- pump up: 'Pump up' is informal/conversational; 'inflate' is standard formal English.
- deflate: To release air or gas from an object.
Commonly confused with
- blow up: 'Blow up' can mean to inflate, but it also carries the dangerous meaning of exploding.
Word family
- inflation (noun): the act of inflating or state of being inflated
- inflatable (adjective): capable of being inflated
Collocations
- inflate tires
- properly inflate
- inflate to pressure
- fully inflate
Example sentences
- "Always inflate your vehicle tires to the exact recommended pressure printed on the driver's door jamb." Tire maintenance instruction
- "He used a portable air compressor to inflate the low tire sufficiently to reach the nearest gas station." Emergency roadside assistance
Memory hook
IN-FLATE: blow air IN so it gets FLAT-out big. Blow air in to expand.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'expand' when referring to solid objects expanding due to thermal heat.
Fun facts
- Under-inflated tires account for millions of gallons of wasted fuel annually worldwide because under-inflation dramatically increases rolling resistance.
Also appears in
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