Word Study
enlarge
CIDE DICTIONARY
enlarge, v. t. [OF. enlargier; pref. en- (L. in) + F. large wide. See Large.].
- To make larger; to increase in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits; to magnify; as, the body is enlarged by nutrition; to enlarge one's house. [1913 Webster]"To enlarge their possessions of land." [1913 Webster]
- To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, and the like; as, knowledge enlarges the mind. [1913 Webster]"O ye Corinthians, our . . . heart is enlarged." [1913 Webster]
- To set at large or set free. [1913 Webster]"It will enlarge us from all restraints." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To increase; extend; expand; spread; amplify; augment; magnify. See Increase.
enlarge, v. i.
- To grow large or larger; to be further extended; to expand; as, a plant enlarges by growth; an estate enlarges by good management; a volume of air enlarges by rarefaction. [1913 Webster]
- To speak or write at length; to be diffuse in speaking or writing; to expatiate; to dilate. [1913 Webster]"To enlarge upon this theme." [1913 Webster]
- To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; -- said of the wind. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
enlarge, v.
1 tr. & intr. make or become larger or wider.
2 a tr. describe in greater detail. b intr. (usu. foll. by upon) expatiate.
3 tr. Photog. produce an enlargement of (a negative).
1 tr. & intr. make or become larger or wider.
2 a tr. describe in greater detail. b intr. (usu. foll. by upon) expatiate.
3 tr. Photog. produce an enlargement of (a negative).
Etymology
ME f. OF enlarger (as EN-(1), LARGE)
THESAURUS
enlarge
add to, agent provocateur, aggrandize, aggravate, amplify, annoy, augment, balloon, beef up, bloat, blow up, blueprint, boost, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, complete, crescendo, deepen, descant, detail, deteriorate, develop, dilate, distend, elaborate, elongate, embitter, embroider, enhance, enlarge upon, enter into detail, evolve, exacerbate, exaggerate, exalt, exasperate, expand, expatiate, explicate, expound, extend, fatten, fill out, go into, greaten, grow, heat up, heighten, hike, hike up, hot up, huff, increase, inflate, intensify, irritate, jack up, jump up, labor, lengthen, magnify, make acute, make worse, maximize, mount, multiply, parlay, particularize, print, process, provoke, puff, puff up, pump, pump up, put up, pyramid, raise, rarefy, rehearse in extenso, relate at large, rise, sharpen, snowball, sour, spell out, spread, stretch, sufflate, supplement, swell, thicken, tumefy, unfold, up, upsurge, wax, widen, work out, worsenROGET THESAURUS
enlarge
Diffuseness
VB be diffuse, run out on, descant, expatiate, enlarge, dilate, amplify, expand, inflate, launch out, branch out, rant, maunder, prose, harp upon, dwell on, insist upon, digress, ramble, battre la campagne, beat about the bush, perorate, spin a long yarn, protract, spin out, swell out, draw out, battologize.Greatness
VB be great, run high, soar, tower, transcend, rise to a great height, carry to a great height, know no bounds, ascend, mount, enlarge.Increase
VB increase, augment, add to, enlarge, dilate, grow, wax, get ahead, gain strength, advance, run up, shoot up, rise, ascend, sprout, aggrandize, raise, exalt, deepen, heighten, strengthen, intensify, enhance, magnify, redouble, aggravate, exaggerate, exasperate, exacerbate, add fuel to the flame, oleum addere camino, superadd, spread.Liberation
VB liberate, free, set free, set clear, set at liberty, render free, emancipate, release, enfranchise, affranchise, manumit, enlarge, disband, discharge, disenthrall, disenthral, dismiss, let go, let loose, loose, let out, let slip, cast adrift, turn adrift, deliver, absolve, unfetter &c, untie, loose, loosen, relax, unbolt, unbar, unclose, uncork, unclog, unhand, unbind, unchain, unharness, unleash, disengage, disentangle, clear, extricate, unloose, gain one's liberty, obtain one's liberty, acquire one's liberty, get rid of, get clear of, deliver oneself from, shake off the yoke, slip the collar, break loose, break prison, tear asunder one's bonds, cast off trammels, escape.Expansion
VB become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten.For further exploring for "enlarge" in Webster Dictionary Online