fill (a balloon, tyre, or other expandable structure) with air or gas so that it becomes distended

never use an air line on a garage forecourt to inflate your tyres

increase (something) by a large or excessive amount

objectives should be clearly set out so as not to duplicate work and inflate costs

bring about inflation of (a currency) or in (an economy)

he has inflated the money supply to allow companies to continue in their old ways