reinforce. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

reinforce

SYLLABICATION:	re·in·force
PRONUNCIATION:	rn-fôrs, -frs
VARIANT FORMS:	also re-en·force or re·en·force
TRANSITIVE VERB:	Inflected forms: re·in·forced, re·in·forc·ing, re·in·forc·es 1. To give more force or effectiveness to; strengthen: The news reinforced her hopes. 2. To strengthen (a military force) with additional personnel or equipment. 3. To strengthen by adding extra support or material. 4. To increase the number or amount of; augment. 5. Psychology a. To reward (an experimental subject, for example) with a reinforcer subsequent to a desired response or performance. b. To encourage (a response) by means of a reinforcer.
ETYMOLOGY:	re– + inforce (variant of enforce).
OTHER FORMS:	rein·forcea·ble —ADJECTIVE


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.