1. [n]  the act of moving forward toward a goal
2. [n]  increase in price or value; "the news caused a general advance on the stock market"
3. [n]  a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others; "she rejected his advances"
4. [n]  a change for the better; progress in development
5. [n]  a movement forward; "he listened for the progress of the troops"
6. [n]  an amount paid before it is earned
7. [v]  develop further; "We are advancing technology every day"
8. [v]  rise in rate or price; "The stock market gained 24 points today"
9. [v]  develop in a positive way; "He progressed well in school"; "My plants are coming along"; "Plans are shaping up"
10. [v]  increase or raise; "boost the voltage in an electrical circuit"
11. [v]  bring forward for consideration or acceptance; "advance an argument"
12. [v]  obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference"
13. [v]  move forward, also in the metaphorical sense; "Time marches on"
14. [v]  cause to move forward; "Can you move the car seat forward?"
15. [v]  move forward; of clocks and watches
16. [v]  pay in advance; "Can you advance me some money?"
17. [v]  give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; "John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired"; "Women tend not to advance in the major law firms"; "I got promoted after many years of hard work"
18. [v]  contribute to the progress or growth of; "I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom"

Advance
Advance

more details ...

1. \Ad*vance"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Advanced}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Advancing}(#).] [OE. avancen, avauncen, F. avancer,
   fr. a supposed LL. abantiare; ab + ante (F. avant) before.
   The spelling with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be
   fr. L. ad. See {Avaunt}.]
   1. To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to
      make to go on.
   2. To raise; to elevate. [Archaic]
            They . . . advanced their eyelids.    --Shak.
   3. To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
            Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above
            all the princes.                      --Esther iii.
                                                  1.
   4. To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to
      forward; to help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance
      the ripening of fruit; to advance one's interests.
   5. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show;
      as, to advance an argument.
            Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. --Pope.
   6. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
   7. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes
      due, or in aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as,
      a merchant advances money on a contract or on goods
      consigned to him.
   8. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate;
      as, to advance the price of goods.
   9. To extol; to laud. [Obs.]
            Greatly advancing his gay chivalry.   --Spenser.
   Syn: To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten;
        accelerate; allege; adduce; assign.
   

2. \Ad*vance"\, v. i.
   1. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to
      greet me.
   2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to
      advance in knowledge, in stature, in years, in price.
   3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred
      or promoted.
            Advanced to a level with ancient peers. --Prescott.
   

3. \Ad*vance"\, n. [Cf. F. avance, fr. avancer. See
   {Advance}, v.]
   1. The act of advancing or moving forward or upward;
      progress.
   2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally,
      or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or
      religion; an advance in rank or office.
   3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an
      advance on the prime cost of goods.
   4. The first step towards the attainment of a result;
      approach made to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to
      adjust a difference, etc.; an overture; a tender; an
      offer; -- usually in the plural.
            [He] made the like advances to the dissenters.
                                                  --Swift.
   5. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received
      (as money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on
      loan; payment beforehand; the money or goods thus
      furnished; money or value supplied beforehand.
            I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances.
                                                  --Jay.
            The account was made up with intent to show what
            advances had been made.               --Kent.
   {In advance}
      (a) In front; before.
      (b) Beforehand; before an equivalent is received.
      (c) In the state of having advanced money on account; as,
          A is in advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.
   

4. \Ad*vance"\, a.
   Before in place, or beforehand in time; -- used for advanced;
   as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body
   of an army; advance payment, or that made before it is due;
   advance proofs, advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming
   volume, received in advance of the time of publication.