Verb
help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
According to the dating site OKCupid, McKinlay's compatibility with women was abysmal. On a site where compatibility equals visibility, he was practically a ghost. To boost that number, he hacked the site.
Waves of protesters clashed with police and set fires across France as anger intensified against government plans to raise the age for retirement benefits.
Public opposition mounted after the FCC said it was reviewing "outdated and restrictive rules" banning the use of cellphones during flights, causing the chairman of the FCC to temper his statement.
The interaction of a particular fungus and virus has caused the widespread collapse of bee colonies. Both culprits proliferate in cold, damp conditions, and both attack the bee's gut.
It is not just the new interns who naturally feel some anxiety. Patients, too, might be a bit skittish. The July Effect, though disputed by some, holds that medical errors spike when beginners arrive at hospitals.
Verb
increase the activity or intensity of something
The self-consciously styled home has become almost commonplace as countless images of picture-perfect interiors online stoke a sense of envy and aspiration.
A recent spate of press statements by unnamed sources in Kabul and Washington suggest that the insurgents may be suing for peace after an uptick in fighting.