Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense fattens, present participle fattening, past tense, past participle fattened
1. verb
If an animal is fattened, or if it fattens, it becomes fatter as a result of eating more.
The cattle are being fattened for slaughter. [beVERB-ed]
The creature continued to grow and fatten. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: grow fat, spread, expand, swell More Synonyms of fatten
2. verb
If you say that someone is fattening something such as a business or its profits, you mean that they are increasing the value of the business or its profits, in a way that you disapprove of.
[business, disapproval]
They have kept the price of sugar artificially high and so fattened the company'sprofits. [VERB noun]
Fatten up means the same as fatten.
The Government is making the taxpayer pay to fatten up a public sector business forprivate sale. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
Phrasal verbs:
See fatten up
More Synonyms of fatten
fatten in British English
(ˈfætən)
verb
1.
to grow or cause to grow fat or fatter
2. (transitive)
to cause (an animal or fowl) to become fat by feeding it
3. (transitive)
to make fuller or richer
4. (transitive)
to enrich (soil) by adding fertilizing agents
Derived forms
fattenable (ˈfattenable)
adjective
fattener (ˈfattener)
noun
fattening (ˈfattening)
adjective
fatten in American English
(ˈfætən)
verb transitive
1.
to make fat, or plump, as by feeding; specif., to make (cattle, etc.) fat for slaughter
2.
to make (land) fertile
3.
to make richer, fuller, etc.
verb intransitive
4.
to become fat
Derived forms
fattener (ˈfattener)
noun
Examples of 'fatten' in a sentence
fatten
But is buttered popcorn less fattening if you eat it in the cinema?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You won't have room for fattening sugary snacks between meals!
Shreeve, Dr Caroline M Lower Your Blood Pressure in 4 Easy Stages (1989)
Pubs sell alcohol, soft drinks and fattening snacks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It's a lot like comfort eating, only more expensive and less fattening.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
1 (verb)
Definition
to grow or cause to grow fat or fatter
The creature continued to grow and fatten.
Synonyms
grow fat
spread
The sense of fear is spreading in residential neighbourhoods.
expand
Water expands as it freezes.
swell
The limbs swell to an enormous size.
thrive
broaden
We must broaden our appeal.
thicken
put on weight
gain weight
coarsen
become fat
become fatter
2 (verb)
Definition
to grow or cause to grow fat or fatter
They fattened up ducks and geese.
Synonyms
feed up
feed
Feeding a hungry family is expensive.
stuff
wallets stuffed with dollars
build up
cram
She pulled off her school hat and crammed it into a wastebasket.
nourish
The food the mother eats nourishes both her and her baby.
distend
The large intestine distends and fills with gas.
bloat
overfeed
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bloat
Definition
to cause to swell, as with a liquid or air
Synonyms
puff up,
expand,
swell,
balloon,
blow up,
enlarge,
inflate,
dilate,
distend
in the sense of broaden
Definition
to make or become broad or broader
We must broaden our appeal.
Synonyms
expand,
increase,
develop,
spread,
extend,
stretch,
open up,
swell,
supplement,
widen,
enlarge,
augment
in the sense of cram
Definition
to force (more people or things) into (a place) than it can hold
She pulled off her school hat and crammed it into a wastebasket.