engrosar

The Spanish verb "engrosar" primarily means to make something thicker or to thicken. It’s formed by the prefix "en-" (which can imply "to cause to be" or "to put into") and the root "grosar," related to "grosor," meaning thickness.

Meaning:

1. To make thicker or to thicken: This refers to increasing the thickness of an object or substance.

   • Example: Engrosar un libro – To thicken a book (by adding more pages).
   • Example: La crema se engrosa al enfriarse – The cream thickens when it cools down.

2. To increase or augment: In a more figurative sense, it can mean to increase the amount or number of something.

   • Example: Engrosar las filas – To increase the ranks or to swell the numbers (e.g., of a group of people).

Parts:

• En- (prefix): Often means "to put into" or "to cause to become."
• grosar (root): Related to grosor (thickness).

Synonyms:

• For thickening: espesar, encerar (in some contexts).
• For increasing numbers: aumentar, incrementar, multiplicar.

Antonyms:

• For thickening: ralentizar, adelgazar (to thin out).
• For increasing: disminuir, reducir, mermar (to reduce or decrease).

Summary:

"Engrosar" is used to describe the action of making something thicker physically or metaphorically increasing quantities or sizes. It is common in contexts related to physical properties (materials, food, pages) as well as groups of people or abstract amounts.