noun

magnification

mag-nih-fih-KAY-shuhn/ˌmæɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/

An increase in apparent size.

The lens provides magnification, making the leaf's tiny veins appear larger.

Magnifying glass enlarges a tiny leaf vein section beneath its lens, clearly larger inside lens than outside.

Etymology

magniLatingreat

+ficLatinmake, do

+ationLatinact or process

The elements meaning “great” and “make” connect magnification with making something larger. The selected sense concerns apparent enlargement: either the act of enlarging an image or how much larger it appears.

In context

Best Binocular Reviews1:11

these Snipex binoulars have an 8x magnification and thus they will make whatever you look at through them seem 8 times closer or larger

Binoculars 101: What do the numbers on binoculars mean?

More examples

At higher magnification, the insect's wings reveal tiny scales.
These binoculars offer eight times magnification.
The report's magnification of minor risks causes needless alarm.

Forms

magnification · magnifications

magnify verb — To make something appear larger.

magnifier noun — A device that makes objects appear larger.

Similar words

enlargement: Can describe actual growth or a larger copy, not just appearance.