fatten

The word "fatten" primarily means to make or become fat, or to increase the weight and substance of something. This is its most literal sense, frequently used in agriculture: "Farmers often fatten cattle with grain before they go to market." It can also describe the process of humans gaining weight, often used with the particle "up," as in: "He's been eating well on vacation and is starting to fatten up."

However, "fatten" also has a secondary meaning that goes beyond physical size. It can mean to enrich or build something up by adding details, resources, or layers. In other words, it is the act of making something more full or substantial than it was before.

For instance, a writer might "fatten" a manuscript with colorful descriptions and subplots to make the world feel more immersive. A musician might "fatten" a thin guitar tone by adding effects like chorus or delay. In a financial context, we often speak of "fattening one's pockets" or "fattening a budget," referring to an increase in wealth or available funds.

Historically, the term was strongly associated with the feeding of livestock, which is why it often suggests a process of preparation or growth. Today, whether it describes increasing physical weight or making a sound, story, or budget fuller, "fatten" usually implies a deliberate process of adding enough to make something feel more substantial.