Magnify
Magnify , transitive verb
[Old English magnifien, French magnifier, Latin magnificare. See Magnific.]
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 diameters.
The least error in a small quantity... will in a great one... be proportionately magnified.
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.
3.
To praise highly; to laud; to extol. [Archaic]
O, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4.
To exaggerate; as, to magnify a loss or a difficulty.
Collocations (2)
To magnify one's self (Scripture) , to exhibit pride and haughtiness; to boast.
To magnify one's self against (Scripture) , to oppose with pride.
Magnify , intransitive verb
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 little.
2.
To have effect; to be of importance or significance. [Cant & Obsolete] — Spectator