Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Improvement
Im-prove′ment
,Noun.
1.
The act of improving; advancement or growth; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration;
as, the
improvement
of the mind, of land, roads, etc.I look upon your city as the best place of
improvement
. South.
Exercise is the chief source of
improvement
in all our faculties. Blair.
2.
The act of making profitable use or applicaton of anything, or the state of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse.
“A good improvement of his reason.” S. Clarke.
I shall make some
improvement
of this doctrine. Tillotson.
3.
The state of being improved; betterment; advance; also, that which is improved;
as, the new edition is an
. improvement
on the oldThe parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, are
improvements
on the Greek poet. Addison.
4.
Increase; growth; progress; advance.
There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several
improvements
and decays. Addison.
Those vices which more particularly receive
improvement
by prosperity. South.
5.
pl.
Valuable additions or betterments, as buildings, clearings, drains, fences, etc., on land or premises;
as, to convey the land together with all
. improvements
6.
(Patent Laws)
A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition.
Kent.
Webster 1828 Edition
Improvement
IMPROVEMENT
,Noun.
1.
Melioration; a making or growing better, or more valuable; as the improvement of barren or exhausted land; the improvement of the roads; the improvement of the breed of horses or cattle.2.
A valuable addition; excellence added, or a change for the better; sometimes with on. The parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, are improvements on the Greek poet.
3.
Advance or progress from any state to a better. There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several improvements and decays.
4.
Instruction; growth in knowledge or refinement; edification. I look upon your city as the best place of improvement.
5.
Use or employment to beneficial purposes; a turning to good account; as the improvement of natural advantages or spiritual privileges. A good improvement of his reason.
6.
Practical application; as the improvement of the doctrines and principles of a sermon. I shall make some improvement of this doctrine.
Hence,
7.
The part of a discourse intended to enforce and apply the doctrines, is called the improvement.8.
Use; occupancy.9.
Improvements, plu.,valuable additions or melioration, as building, clearings, drains, fences, &c., on a farm.