Understanding Augmentation: Definition, Types & Applications

The word "augmentation" is used to describe the amount or intensity by which something increases. Augmentation commonly refers to surgery to enhance the size of a certain body part but is also used in medical and musical terminology.

Augmentation of the body

• There are many different types of body augmentation. For example ...
  Breast augmentation: Enlarging or reshaping the breasts for aesthetic or reconstructive purposes.
  Chin augmentation: Enlarging or reshaping the chin for aesthetic or reconstructive purposes.

Augmentation of music

• Musical augmentation refers to lengthening or expanding different rhythms.

Augmentation of medicine

• Augmenting medicine, or psychiatric augmentation, refers to combining different drugs to obtain better results

Augmentation as a symbol of honor

• Augmenting a coat of arms--changing something in the coat--represents a symbol of honor.

Misconceptions

• A common misconception of the term "augmentation" is that it refers only to augmentation of the body or cosmetic surgery. In fact, the word augmentation can be used when talking about increasing or enlarging almost anything.