different between magnify vs widen

English

Alternative forms

• magnifie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French magnifier, from Latin magnific?re, from magnificus.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ma?n?fa?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?mæ?n?fa?/

Verb

magnify (third-person singular simple present magnifies, present participle magnifying, simple past and past participle magnified)

1. (transitive) To praise, glorify (someone or something, especially God). [from 14th c.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts X:

     For they herde them speake with tonges, and magnify God.

   • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:

     For he who freely magnifies what hath been nobly done, and fears not to declare as freely what might be done better, gives ye the best cov'nant of his fidelity [...].

2. (transitive) To make (something) larger or more important. [from 14th c.]
3. (transitive) To make (someone or something) appear greater or more important than it is; to intensify, exaggerate. [from 17th c.]
4. (transitive) To make (something) appear larger by means of a lens, magnifying glass, telescope etc. [from 17th c.]
5. (intransitive, slang, obsolete) To have effect; to be of importance or significance.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spectator to this entry?)

Derived terms

• magnifier
• magnifying glass
• magnification

Related terms

• minify (opposite)

Translations

English

Etymology

From wide +? -en (verbal suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?wa?d?n/
• Rhymes: -a?d?n

Verb

widen (third-person singular simple present widens, present participle widening, simple past and past participle widened)

1. (intransitive) To become wide or wider.

2. (transitive) To make wide or wider.
3. (transitive) To let out clothes to a larger size.

4. (transitive) To broaden or extend in scope or range.

5. (transitive, programming) To convert to a data type that can hold a larger number of distinct values.

   Antonym: narrow

   to widen a short variable to an int variable

Derived terms

• widenable

Translations

Anagrams

• Edwin, Wendi, dwine, indew, winde, wined