magnify
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈmaɡnɪfaɪ/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/
Verb

magnify (magnifies, present participle magnifying; past and past participle magnified)

  1. (transitive) To praise, glorify (someone or something, especially God). [from 14th c.]
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts X:
      For they herde them speake with tonges, and magnify God.
    • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:
      For he who freely magnifies what hath been nobly done, and fears not to declare as freely what might be done better, gives ye the best cov'nant of his fidelity [...].
  2. (transitive) To make (something) larger or more important. [from 14th c.]
    • The least error in a small quantity […] will in a great one […] be proportionately magnified.
  3. (transitive) To make (someone or something) appear greater or more important than it is; to intensify, exaggerate. [from 17th c.]
  4. (transitive) To make (something) appear larger by means of a lens, magnifying glass, telescope etc. [from 17th c.]
  5. (intransitive, slang, obsolete) To have effect; to be of importance or significance.
Related terms Translations


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