better and improve share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. better means “something superior in quality or condition or effect”. improve means “to make better”. better is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈbɛtɚ/
1.n.something superior in quality or condition or effect
“a change for the better”
2.n.someone who bets
3.n.a superior person having claim to precedence
“the common man has been kept in his place by his betters”
/ˌɪmˈpɹuv/
1.v.to make better
“The editor improved the manuscript with his changes”
2.v.get better
“The weather improved toward evening”
| better | improve | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛtɚ/ | /ˌɪmˈpɹuv/ |
| Said | BET-ur | im-PROOV |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | noun, adjective, verb, adverb | verb |
| Senses | 13 | 2 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | none recorded | better, amend, ameliorate |
Full entry for better · Full entry for improve · More comparisons