magnify
verb /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/
/ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they magnify | /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/ /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪ/ |
| he / she / it magnifies | /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪz/ /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪz/ |
| past simple magnified | /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪd/ /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪd/ |
| past participle magnified | /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪd/ /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪd/ |
| -ing form magnifying | /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪɪŋ/ /ˈmæɡnɪfaɪɪŋ/ |
- magnify something (to/by something) to make something look bigger than it really is, for example by using a lens or microscope synonym enlarge
- bacteria magnified to 1 000 times their actual size
- an image magnified by a factor of 4
- The picture shows the insect’s head magnified ten times.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- greatly
- highly
- magnify something 50, 100, etc. times
- magnify something to make something bigger, louder or stronger
- The sound was magnified by the high roof.
- The dry summer has magnified the problem of water shortages.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- greatly
- highly
- magnify something 50, 100, etc. times
- magnify something to make something seem more important or serious than it really is synonym exaggerate
- The daring of his exploits had been hugely magnified by constant telling.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- greatly
- highly
- magnify something 50, 100, etc. times
Word Originlate Middle English (in the senses ‘show honour to (God)’ and ‘make greater’): from Old French magnifier or Latin magnificare, based on Latin magnus ‘great’. The current senses date from the mid 17th cent.