magnifying
/ˈmæɡ.nɪ.faɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈæɡnəfˌaɪɪŋ] /ˈmæɡ.nə.faɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈæɡnəfˌaɪɪŋ] /ˈmag-nə-ˌfī How to pronounce magnify (audio)/ (ame, mw)
magnifying — verb
- magnifyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- magnifyings3rd person singular
- magnifyinging-ing form
- magnifyingedpast simple
1. used when a lens or close-up device is making something seem bigger to the eye t
used when a lens or close-up device is making something seem bigger to the eye than its real size.
Omar was magnifying a tiny beetle through the lab camera for the class.
magnifying + object through a viewing device
The phone app kept magnifying the receipt so Eve could read the price.
digital tool magnifying small print
By the window, Élise was magnifying the stamp until the date became clear.
On the screen, the software was magnifying each blood cell for Tanvi.
- enlarging
more general and not limited to viewing through an optical device
- zooming in on
common for cameras and screens, especially when the viewer controls the focus
- blowing up
informal; often used for making an image appear much larger
文法句型
be magnifying + object
magnifying + object through + lens
magnifying + object on + screen
用法筆記
Subjects are often a lens, camera, microscope, app, or other viewing device. Distinguish from sense 3: here the original object stays the same size, and only the viewer sees it as larger.
常見錯誤
2. used when someone or something is making a difficulty, fear, or mistake seem mor
used when someone or something is making a difficulty, fear, or mistake seem more serious than it really is.
Lucía's late-night posts were magnifying a small argument with her sister.
figurative use: making a problem seem bigger
Amani kept magnifying the budget delay until the whole team felt alarmed.
The headline was magnifying one mistake into a national scandal.
By repeating the rumour, Michael was magnifying everyone's fear about the exam.
- exaggerating
the broad everyday choice for making something seem bigger than it is
- overstating
more formal and often used for claims, facts, or numbers
- inflating
suggests pushing importance or figures upward, sometimes deliberately
- downplaying
making the issue seem less serious than it is
- minimizing
treating a real problem as smaller or less important
文法句型
be magnifying + problem
magnifying + issue into + disaster
keep magnifying + fear
用法筆記
Common with words like problem, fear, delay, weakness, and effect. It often carries a critical tone, suggesting that attention, repetition, or bad framing is making the situation loom larger than the facts justify.
常見錯誤
3. used when something is being enlarged so it takes up more space in real size or
used when something is being enlarged so it takes up more space in real size or in a copied version.
Hyun was magnifying the map before pinning it to the notice board.
preparing a larger version for display
Lien spent the morning magnifying the sewing pattern for the larger coat.
Christopher is magnifying the museum photo for the entrance poster.
The print shop was magnifying the safety diagram for workers with weak sight.
- enlarging
the most general choice for making a copy or object bigger
- scaling up
more technical, often used for plans, graphics, or digital files
- blowing up
informal; common for photos or printed images made much larger
文法句型
be magnifying + map
magnifying + pattern for + larger copy
magnifying + photo for + poster
用法筆記
This sense is common with copies, diagrams, photos, maps, and patterns. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 is about making the output itself bigger, while sense 1 is only about how the viewer sees the original.