Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To increase the apparent size of (an object), especially by means of a lens, instrument, or device.
  • intransitive verb To increase the volume of (sound).
  • intransitive verb To make more intense or extreme.
  • intransitive verb To cause to appear greater, more important, or more extreme than is in fact the case: synonym: exaggerate.
  • intransitive verb Archaic To glorify or praise.
  • intransitive verb To increase or have the power to increase the size or volume of an image or a sound.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make greater; increase the size, amount, or extent of; enlarge; augment.
  • To cause to appear greater; increase the apparent dimensions of; enlarge or augment to the eye: as, a convex lens magnifies the bulk of a body to the eye.
  • To exalt the power, glory, or greatness of; sound the praises of; extol; glorify.
  • To represent as greater than the reality; exaggerate: as, to magnify a person's deeds; to magnify the evils of one's lot.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they really are; to increase the apparent dimensions of objects.
  • intransitive verb Cant & Obs. To have effect; to be of importance or significance.
  • transitive verb To make great, or greater; to increase the dimensions of; to amplify; to enlarge, either in fact or in appearance.
  • transitive verb To increase the importance of; to augment the esteem or respect in which one is held.
  • transitive verb Archaic To praise highly; to laud; to extol.
  • transitive verb To exaggerate.
  • transitive verb (Script.) to exhibit pride and haughtiness; to boast.
  • transitive verb (Script.) to oppose with pride.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb increase in size, volume or significance
  • verb make large
  • verb to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English magnifien, to extol, from Old French magnifier, from Latin magnificāre, from magnificus, magnificent; see magnific.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle French magnifier or its source, Latin magnificāre, from magnificus.

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