reinforce: Meaning and Definition of

re•in•force

Pronunciation: (rē"in-fôrs', -fōrs'), [key]
— v., n. -forced, -forc•ing,
—v.t.
  1. to strengthen with some added piece, support, or material: to reinforce a wall.
  2. to strengthen (a military force) with additional personnel, ships, or aircraft: to reinforce a garrison.
  3. to strengthen; make more forcible or effective: to reinforce efforts.
  4. to augment; increase: to reinforce a supply.
  5. to strengthen the probability of (a response to a given stimulus) by giving or withholding a reward.
—n.
  1. something that reinforces.
  2. a metal band on the rear part of the bore of a gun, where the explosion occurs.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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