Dictionary

enlarge en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈlɑɹd͡ʒ/ (General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ɪnˈlɑːd͡ʒ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English enlargen, from Old French enlargier, enlargir. By surface analysis, en- + large.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To make (something) larger.
   • We'll need to enlarge our budget if we want to include the helicopter ride in our holiday.
2. (intransitive) To grow larger.
3. (transitive) To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, etc.
   • Knowledge enlarges the mind.
   • O ye Corinthians, our […] heart is enlarged. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 6:11:
4. (intransitive) To speak or write at length upon or on (some subject); expand; elaborate
   • We are then told of the basilisk killing by staring, and of a mous running round a snake till it rushes into the jaws of death. After copying many such anilities, the author adds only, "but our readers will excuse our enlarging." 1819, The Edinburgh Monthly Review, volume 1, page 707:
   • I shall enlarge upon the Point. 1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 2:
   • He began to enlarge on the nature of the ground. 1926, T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, New York: Anchor, published 1991, page 167:
5. (archaic) To release; to set at large.
   • Finding no meanes how I might us enlarge, / But if that Dwarfe I could with me convay, / I lightly snatcht him up and with me bore away. 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
   • Like a Lionesse lately enlarged. a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
   • Uncle of Exeter, enlarge the man committed yesterday, that rail'd against our person. We consider it was excess of wine that set him on. 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
   • In hospital he gave his parole, and was enlarged after paying for the torn blanket. 1926, T.E. Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, New York: Anchor, published 1991, page 167:
   • In the morning, said Mr. Case, as soon as Mr. Gorman, or Mr. Nolan arrives, you will be let out, and free to come and go, as you please. Watt replied that that would indeed be something to look forward to, and a comfort to him during the night, the prospect of being enlarged, in the morning, by Mr. Gorman, or Mr. Nolan, and made free to come and go, as he listed. 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
   • It will enlarge us from all restraints. a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “(please specify the chapter name or sermon number)”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1830–1831, →OCLC:
6. To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; said of the wind.
7. To extend the time allowed for compliance with (an order or rule).
   • the court would not take farther time to adjourn and deliberate, where the term was near spent, unless the parties would consent to enlarge it 1795, Charles Runnington, The History, Principles and Practice […] :

Forms

Deriveds

re-enlarge · enlarge oneself · enlarge up · enlargement · enlarger · enlargeable · enlargingly · reenlarge

Relateds

magnify · supersize

Synonyms

up · eke / eke out · set free · wax · accrue · expound · amplify · greaten · largen · largen · aggrandize · heighten · liberate · strengthen · enlarge · enlargen · enhance · grow · enlargen · grow · swell · increment · raise · greaten · dilate · augment · increase · enrich · expand · greaten · embiggen · free · wind up · augment · increase · magnify · embiggen · expatiate · propagate · add · embiggen · enhance · swell · expand · enlarge · accelerate · dilate · elevate · grow

Translations (69)

es ampliar (make larger) · nl uitvergroten (make larger) · mk зголеми (make larger) · tyz boỏng (make larger) · te పెరుగుట (make larger) · es agrandar (make larger) · ru расши́рить (make larger) · cmn 加大 (make larger) · ca allargar (make larger) · az böyütmək (make larger) · is stækka (make larger) · fr accroître (make larger) · pl powiększać (make larger) · yi פֿאַרגרעסערן (make larger) · mk зголемува (make larger) · pl powiększyć (make larger) · he הִגְדִּיל (make larger) · ru увели́чить (make larger) · bg увелича́вам (make larger) · sq Zmadhoj (make larger) · pt engrandecer (make larger) · fr agrandir (make larger) · uk розши́рити (make larger) · fr élargir (make larger) · bg уголемявам (make larger) · kl allivaa (make larger) · es engrandar (make larger) · fi laajentaa (make larger) · nl vergroten (make larger) · la grandiō (make larger) · id membesarkan (make larger) · mi whakarahi (make larger) · sc allargai (make larger) · ar كَبَّرَ (make larger) · it allargare (make larger) · ru расширя́ть (make larger) · sl povečati (make larger) · pt aumentar (make larger) · ru увели́чивать (make larger) · es engrandecer (make larger) · grc μεγαλύνω (make larger) · uk збі́льшити (make larger) · sv förstora (make larger) · cs zvětšovat (make larger) · pl rozszerzać (make larger) · da forstørre (make larger) · cmn 放大 (make larger) · az iriləşdirmək (make larger) · cy ychwanegu (make larger) · eo pligrandigi (make larger) · ja 拡大する (make larger) · sdc allargà (make larger) · br ledanaat (make larger) · pl rozszerzyć (make larger) · cmn 增大 (make larger) · fi suurentaa (make larger) · no forstørre (make larger) · sdn allargai (make larger) · pt ampliar (make larger) · uk збі́льшувати (make larger) · cs zvětšit (make larger) · de vergrößern (make larger) · eo grandigi (make larger) · id memperbesar (make larger) · qu hatunchay (make larger) · ca engrandir (make larger) · got 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (make larger) · ta பெருக (make larger) · uk розши́рювати (make larger)