First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
magnify
verb mag·ni·fy \ˈmag-nə-ˌfī\
: to make (something) greater
: to make (something) seem greater or more important than it is
: to make (something) appear larger
mag·ni·fiedmag·ni·fy·ing
Full Definition of MAGNIFY
transitive verb
2
a : to increase in significance : intensify b : exaggerate <magnifies every minor issue to crisis proportions>
3
: to enlarge in fact or in appearance
intransitive verb
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
See magnify defined for English-language learners
See magnify defined for kids
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Origin of MAGNIFY
Middle English magnifien, from Anglo-French magnifier, from Latin magnificare, from magnificus
Related to MAGNIFY
- Synonyms
- color, elaborate (on), embellish, exaggerate, hyperbolize, embroider, pad, stretch
Rhymes with MAGNIFY
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
MAGNIFY Defined for Kids
magnify
verb mag·ni·fy \ˈmag-nə-ˌfī\
mag·ni·fiedmag·ni·fy·ing
Definition of MAGNIFY for Kids
1
: to enlarge in fact or appearance <A microscope magnifies an object seen through it.>
2
: to cause to seem greater or more important : exaggerate <The problem has been magnified by rumors.>
Medical Dictionary
magnify
verb mag·ni·fy \ˈmag-nə-ˌfī\
mag·ni·fiedmag·ni·fy·ing
Medical Definition of MAGNIFY
transitive verb
: to enlarge in appearance
intransitive verb
: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are
Learn More About MAGNIFY
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