magnification

[ mag-nuh-fi-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of magnifying or the state of being magnified.
2. the power to magnify. Compare power ( def 20a ).
3. a magnified image, drawing, copy, etc.

magnification

/ ˌmæɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of magnifying or the state of being magnified
2. the degree to which something is magnified
3. a copy, photograph, drawing, etc, of something magnified
4. a measure of the ability of a lens or other optical instrument to magnify, expressed as the ratio of the size of the image to that of the object

Other Words From

• over·magni·fi·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnification¹

First recorded in 1615–25, magnification is from the Late Latin word magnificātiōn- (stem of magnificātiō ). See magnify, -fication