Im-prov'e'ment, n.

(im-prōōv'ment), n. 1. The act of improving, or the state of being improved; advancement in growth, or promotion of growth, in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind or of the heart, of land, roads, &c. I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. 2. The act of making profitable use or application of any thing, or the state of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; hence, also, practical application, as of the doctrines and principles of a discourse. “A good improvement of his reason.” S. Clarke. I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson. 3. That which improves any thing, or is added to it by way of improving it; that by which the value of any thing is increased, its excellence enhanced, or the like. The parts of Simon, Camilla, and some few others are improvements on the Greek poet. Addison. There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several improvements and decays. Addison.

4. Increase; growth. [Rare.] “Those vices which more particularly receive improvement by prosperity.” South.
5. (pl.) Valuable additions or melioration, as buildings, clearings, drains, fences, &c., on a farm.
6. (Patent Laws.) An addition of some useful thing to a machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. Bouvier. Kent.