mag·ni·fy [ mágnə f ](past and past participlemag·ni·fied, present participlemag·ni·fy·ing, 3rd person present singularmag·ni·fies)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive verb increase apparent size of something: to cause something to appear larger than it is, especially by using a microscope or lens a virus magnified 50,000 times
2. transitive verb increase actual size of something: to increase the actual size or magnitude of something
3. transitive verb increase importance of something: to increase the importance attributed to somebody or something The complexities of today's medicine only magnify the need for better hospital management.
4. transitive verb overstate importance: to cause somebody or something to appear more important than is in fact the case The report was highly inaccurate, magnifying the dangers posed by the new vaccine.
5. intransitive verb have enlarging ability: to have the ability to increase the size or magnitude of something
6. transitive verb praise God: to give praise or thanks to God
(
formal
)
[14th century. Directly or via Old French magnifier< Latin magnificare "make greater" < magnus "great"]
