magnify

4 definitions • 4 examples

to make something look larger than it is, especially by looking at it through a lens:

Although our skin looks smooth, when magnified it is full of bumps and holes.

to make a problem bigger or more important:

The hot summer magnified the racial tensions in the community.

to make something look larger than it is, esp. by looking at it through a special piece of glass:

Although your skin looks smooth, when magnified you can see a lot of little bumps and holes.

fig. To magnify something is also to make it seem more important or more serious than it really is:

He always magnifies the problems and inconveniences of travel.