magnification

/ˈmægnəfəˌkeɪʃən/

/mægnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

Other forms: magnifications

Magnification is the process of making an object appear much larger than it really is. You might use magnification to inspect a rare penny, or even a zit. You decide.

Some small objects, like cells, require magnification to be seen at all. Other things, like distant planets, are so far away that you need the magnification of a telescope to get a good look at them. Binoculars use magnification so you can see the details of birds close-up, and reading glasses use magnification for reading small print. Magnification comes from the Latin word magnificare, "esteem greatly" or "make much of."

Definitions of magnification

1. noun

   the act of expanding something in apparent size
   type of:

   enlargement, expansion

   the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
2. noun

   the ratio of the size of an image to the size of the object
   type of:

   ratio

   the relative magnitudes of two quantities (usually expressed as a quotient)
3. noun

   making to seem more important than it really is
   synonyms: exaggeration, overstatement

   type of:

   deceit, deception, misrepresentation

   a misleading falsehood
4. noun

   a photographic print that has been enlarged
   synonyms: blowup, enlargement

   type of:

   exposure, photo, photograph, pic, picture

   a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material