The Collaborative International Dictionary
Magnify \Mag"ni*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Magnified; p. pr. & vb. n. Magnifying.] [OE. magnifien, F. magnifier, L. magnificare. See Magnific.]
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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.
--Grew. -
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. -
To praise highly; to laud; to extol. [Archaic]
O, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
--Ps. xxxiv. 3. -
To exaggerate; as, to magnify a loss or a difficulty.
To magnify one's self (Script.), to exhibit pride and haughtiness; to boast.
To magnify one's self against (Script.), to oppose with pride.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of magnify English)
Usage examples of "magnifying".
The governor sat down in his big leather chair, picked up the magnifying glass, and discovered a new pile of memos and news clips.
Crimm had misplaced the silver magnifying glass that he faithfully kept on the marble fireplace mantle in the master suite.
Unique was cruising past the blond undercover cop's row house when two women taking a walk with their babies in strollers discovered the appalling sight in the brick ruins on Belle Island at the very moment Pony pretended to discover the governor's missing magnifying glass.
He dipped into a pocket of his crisp white jacket and withdrew the silver magnifying glass, which he silently set inside a pewter compote.
She met the governor's enlarged right eye as he peered through the magnifying glass and scanned his surroundings.
There could very well be another man in the mansion right this minute, and that's why someone had deliberately tucked his magnifying glass in the compote.
Governor Crimm smiled, patting for his magnifying glass, which he had attached to his pocket-watch chain to insure that his beloved optical aid did not find its way into the compote again.
The governor peered through the magnifying glass at the scratched old wood.
He repeatedly moved his magnifying glass over every word as Major Trader briefed him on matters of state and offered him a homemade chocolate-covered cherry.
The governor was silent for many long minutes as he moved his magnifying glass over Trooper Truth's words and grunted now and then and made other inarticulate sounds of disapproval, surprise, and constitutional discomfort.
Maude was gazing into a showcase at a jeweled egg that had led to the Bolshevik Revolution and the mystery of Anastasia, when Bedford Crimm IV, a freshman state senator, had gallantly appeared at her side and stared through an old magnifying glass at the lovely shapes scarcely covered by her low-cut gown.
She was chewing with her mouth open and talking nonstop, distracting the governor as he peered through his magnifying glass at the pool balls he went after.
If you click on the small jail icon in the upper right-hand corner, you can view a recent photograph of him with Governor Crimm, who is the gentleman on the left holding a magnifying glass.
Governor Crimm picked up his nineteenth-century magnifying glass, which was English and made of ivory.
His magnifying glass caught the edge of the napkin and he yanked it out of his collar and flung it to the floor, his worst fear realized.