(v. t.) To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence.
(v. t.) To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land.
(v. t.) To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means.
(v. t.) To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; -- said with reference to what is bad.
(v. i.) To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health.
(v. i.) To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse.
(v. i.) To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves.
Example Sentences:
(1) These data indicate a steady improvement in laboratory performance over the last 10 years.
(2) Use of the improved operative technique contributed to reduction in number of complications.
(3) With UVB treatment clinical improvement was achieved, and a less pronounced decrease in epidermal LC was noticed.
(4) This clinical improvement was also associated with a decrease of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p less than 0.001), decrease of C-reactive protein (p less than 0.0001) and with improvement of anaemia (p less than 0.05).
(5) In order to control noise- and vibration-caused diseases it was necessary not only to improve machines' quality and service conditions but also to pay special attention to the choice of operators and to the quality of monitoring their adaptation process.
(6) Symptomatic improvement was obtained in 14 of the 15 hands, and sensory-evoked response improved in 13 hands.
(7) McDonald said cutting better deals with suppliers and improving efficiency as well as raising some prices had only partly offset the impact of sterling’s fall against the dollar.
(8) Systemic corticosteroids (i.e., prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisolone) have improved the survival rate of patients with moderate and severe ulcerative colitis.
(9) The active agents modestly improved treadmill exercise duration time until 1 mm ST segment depression (3%), and only propranolol and diltiazem had significant effects.
(10) A segment of vas deferens was transplanted to the contralateral deferens with the intention of improving treatment for certain cases of infertility caused by obstruction.
(11) Blood pressure control was marginally improved during the study and it is thought possible that better patient compliance might explain this.
(12) Since interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) is useful as a single agent, it is important to determine if interferon can be combined with standard chemotherapy to improve both response and survival in patients with cancer.
(13) Patients had improved sitting balance and endurance after surgery.
(14) However, further improvement of culture systems is needed for active replication of HBV in vitro.
(15) Symptoms, particularly colicky abdominal pain, improved during the period of chelation therapy.
(16) Her muscle weakness and hyperCKemia markedly improved by corticosteroid therapy, suggesting that the diagnosis was compatible with polymyositis (PM).
(17) An intact post-injury marriage was associated with improvement in education.
(18) A review is presented concerning the development of new neuroimaging techniques in the last decade which have improved the diagnostic exploration of patients with spinal cord injuries, including studies of possible sequelae.
(19) Akinetic symptoms were improved in 7 of 10 patients.
(20) What we’re doing is designed to improve people’s lives.” "I don't see race, colour or creed, and neither do my children," he added.
Leverage
Definition:
(n.) The action of a lever; mechanical advantage gained by the lever.
Example Sentences:
(1) "As part of this de-leveraging process, the group will also focus on eliminating any loss-making businesses."
(2) However in a repeat of the current standoff over the federal budget, the conservative wing of the Republican party is threatening to exploit its leverage over raising the debt ceiling to unpick Obama's healthcare reforms.
(3) Only one country – China – could apply serious leverage – because it is North Korea's major supplier of oil and food and main trading partner, Hoare said.
(4) The Cabinet Office review was presented at the weekend as an exercise largely focused on the Unite union's strategy of leverage , a form of protest outside the homes of senior executives involved in industrial disputes.
(5) Cameron spoke out after the Daily Mail published claims that the union had a "leverage" unit as part of its campaign to negotiate better pay and conditions for staff at Grangemouth.
(6) Causes of the force and leverage reductions and some clinical considerations are discussed.
(7) Given the poor profitability profile of the operating companies, it is no surprise that the private-equity-owned businesses have not always needed to adopt the high leverage model to secure a tax advantage.
(8) Financial engineering, over-leverage, a lack of capital in the system, no real liquidity, banks taking on too much risk.
(9) The recently bailed-out Belgian-French bank Dexia had a capital ratio well above regulatory limits but a leverage ratio more than 60 times its equity base.
(10) But it is hard to see that American interests, as opposed to feelings, were at risk, or that she has much leverage with MacAskill.
(11) This objective will influence everything from the language used, the platforms that are leveraged to how people engage with the campaign.
(12) Massie indicated the coalition is already looking towards the June 2017 expiration of another broad surveillance power, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to force additional rollbacks, much as the USA Freedom Act authors used the expiration of parts of the Patriot Act as leverage to pass their bill.
(13) Beyond that, Fifa is committed to using its leverage to ensure respect for human rights.” Ruggie added: “Fifa is not solely responsible for solving these problems where the actions of others are the primary cause.
(14) It also has the not to be overlooked factor of locking in Moscow to ensuring that its ally actually follow through with the requirements its being asked to fulfill, which in turn could actually increase the leverage of the U.S. in the event of a further breach from Syria that would surely embarrass Russia.
(15) The White House said in a statement Obama's visiting Cushing was intended to show his commitment to "improving and supporting the infrastructure that helps us leverage our domestic resources, while also ensuring these projects are developed in a safe and responsible way".
(16) research fellow at the Washington-based New America Foundation "I think the expectation will be for the Obama administration to leverage pressure on the Karzai government to 'clean up' his governing style but I doubt Karzai will do so, certainly not quickly.
(17) Showing exasperation at slow progress in kick-starting the €440bn European Financial Stability Facility, Draghi said EU leaders had decided more than a year and a half ago to launch the fund, then to make the full guarantee volume available and, four weeks ago, to leverage its resources.
(18) Meanwhile, establishment of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington would provide America with leverage in its dealings with Iran, something which would be beneficial to Israel in the long run.
(19) The proposals include: improving regulatory business environments in partner countries; encouraging job creation by making it easier for micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses to access finance; combining EU grants with other public and private sector resources to leverage additional financing; and promoting responsible, sustainable and inclusive investment in developing countries.
(20) Lumping HBO in with Fox's FX might give it extra leverage – smooth out those less successful seasons when it launches The Newsroom rather than Game of Thrones – or it might not.