Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Magnify
Mag′ni-fy
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Magnified
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Magnifying
.] 1.
To make great, or greater; to increase the dimensions of; to amplify; to enlarge, either in fact or in appearance;
as, the microscope
. magnifies
the object by a thousand diametersThe least error in a small quantity . . . will in a great one . . . be proportionately
magnified
. Grew.
2.
To increase the importance of; to augment the esteem or respect in which one is held.
On that day the Lord
magnified
Joshua in the sight of all Israel. Joshua iv. 14.
3.
To praise highly; to laud; to extol.
[Archaic]
O,
magnify
the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Ps. xxxiv. 3.
4.
To exaggerate;
as, to
. magnify
a loss or a difficultyTo magnify one’s self
(Script.)
, to exhibit pride and haughtiness; to boast.
– To magnify one's self against
(Script.)
, to oppose with pride.
Mag′ni-fy
,Verb.
I.
1.
To have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they really are; to increase the apparent dimensions of objects;
as, some lenses
. magnify
but little2.
To have effect; to be of importance or significance.
[Cant & Obs.]
Spectator.
Webster 1828 Edition
Magnify
MAGNIFY
,Verb.
T.
1.
To make great or greater; to increase the apparent dimensions of a body. A convex lens magnifies the bulk of a body to the eye.2.
To make great in representation; to extol; to exalt in description or praise. The embassador magnified the king and queen.3.
To extol; to exalt; to elevate; to raise in estimation. Thee that day
Thy thunders magnified.
The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly. 1 Chron. 29.
To magnify one's self, to raise in pride and pretensions.
He shall magnify in his heart. Dan.8.
Definition 2024
magnify
magnify
English
Verb
magnify (third-person singular simple present magnifies, present participle magnifying, simple past and past participle magnified)
- (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 [...].
- 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts X:
- (transitive) To make (something) larger or more important. [from 14th c.]
- Grew
- The least error in a small quantity […] will in a great one […] be proportionately magnified.
- 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 2, in Internal Combustion:
- But through the oligopoly, charcoal fuel proliferated throughout London's trades and industries. By the 1200s, brewers and bakers, tilemakers, glassblowers, pottery producers, and a range of other craftsmen all became hour-to-hour consumers of charcoal. This only magnified the indispensable nature of the oligopolists.
- Grew
- (transitive) To make (someone or something) appear greater or more important than it is; to intensify, exaggerate. [from 17th c.]
- (transitive) To make (something) appear larger by means of a lens, magnifying glass, telescope etc. [from 17th c.]
- 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:
- Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. That’s because the lenses that are excellent at magnifying tiny subjects produce a narrow depth of field. A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that.
-
- (intransitive, slang, obsolete) To have effect; to be of importance or significance.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spectator to this entry?)
Derived terms
Related terms
- minify (opposite)
Translations
to make larger
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