Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'magnify'

English Word: magnify

Key Russian Translations:

• увеличить [u.vʲɪ.lʲɪˈt͡ɕɪtʲ] - [Formal, used in scientific, technical, or everyday contexts involving enlargement]
• усилить [u.sʲɪˈlʲɪtʲ] - [Informal, when implying enhancement or amplification, but less precise for visual magnification]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is commonly used in technical, educational, and daily conversations, but not as ubiquitous as basic verbs like "to be" or "to have".)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; involves understanding verb conjugations and contexts. For "увеличить", it's B1; for "усилить", it's also B1 due to similar conjugation patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

увеличить: [u.vʲɪ.lʲɪˈt͡ɕɪtʲ]

усилить: [u.sʲɪˈlʲɪtʲ]

Note on увеличить: The stress falls on the third syllable ("li"), which can be tricky for English speakers due to the palatalized 'l' sound; practice with native audio for accuracy.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To make something appear larger than it is (e.g., using a lens or tool)

Translation(s) & Context:

• увеличить - Used in visual or optical contexts, such as photography, microscopy, or digital zooming; common in formal and technical settings.
• усилить - Used more broadly for amplification, but can apply if "magnify" implies strengthening signals or effects, e.g., in sound or metaphorically.

Usage Examples:

• Я увеличил изображение на экране, чтобы лучше видеть детали. (Ya uvelichil izobrazhenie na ekrane, chtoby luchshe videt' detali.)

  I magnified the image on the screen to see the details better. (This example shows the verb in a digital context with a direct object.)

• С помощью лупы он увеличил текст в старой книге. (S pomoshch'yu lupy on uvelichil tekst v staroy knige.)

  With a magnifying glass, he magnified the text in the old book. (Illustrates use with tools in a historical or everyday scenario.)

• В микроскопе можно увеличить клетки для изучения. (V mikroskope mozhno uvelichit' kletki dlya izucheniya.)

  In a microscope, you can magnify cells for study. (Demonstrates imperative form in scientific contexts.)

• Она усилила звук, чтобы все услышали речь. (Ona usilila zvuk, chtoby vse uslyshali rech'.)

  She magnified the sound so everyone could hear the speech. (Shows an alternative translation in an auditory context, highlighting metaphorical use.)

• Программа позволяет увеличить видео в реальном времени. (Programma pozvolyaet uvelichit' video v real'nom vremeni.)

  The program allows you to magnify the video in real time. (Example of infinitive form in tech-related usage.)

To exaggerate or intensify something (metaphorical sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• усилить - More appropriate for intensification; used in emotional or rhetorical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Он усилил свою историю, чтобы сделать её интереснее. (On usilil svoyu istoriyu, chtoby sdelat' yeyo interesneye.)

  He magnified his story to make it more interesting. (This shows metaphorical use in narrative contexts.)

• СМИ часто усиливают незначительные события. (SMI chasto usilyayut znachitel'nye sobytiya.)

  The media often magnify insignificant events. (Illustrates use in media or social commentary.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "увеличить" and "усилить" are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which follow regular patterns but require attention to aspects (perfective and imperfective forms). "Увеличить" is the perfective form, implying completion, while its imperfective counterpart is "увеличивать". Similarly, "усилить" is perfective, with "усилить" as imperfective.

For unchanging aspects, note that these verbs do not change in the imperative or infinitive forms beyond standard conjugation rules.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • усиливать (usilivat') - Similar to "усилить", but imperfective; used for ongoing amplification.
  • раздуть (razdut') - Informal, implies exaggeration or inflation metaphorically.
• Antonyms:
  • уменьшить (umen'shit') - To reduce or diminish size or intensity.
  • ослабить (oslabit') - To weaken or lessen.

Related Phrases:

• увеличить масштаб - To zoom in (used in mapping or digital interfaces; literally "to increase the scale").
• усилить эффект - To amplify the effect (common in scientific or artistic contexts; means "to strengthen the impact").
• раздуть проблему - To blow something out of proportion (idiomatic; implies exaggerating an issue for dramatic effect).

Usage Notes:

When translating "magnify" to Russian, choose "увеличить" for literal visual enlargement and "усилить" for metaphorical intensification. Be mindful of aspect: use perfective forms like "увеличить" for completed actions and imperfective "увеличивать" for ongoing ones. In formal contexts, such as scientific writing, "увеличить" is preferred due to its precision. English speakers often confuse aspect, so always consider the context—e.g., avoid "увеличить" in descriptions of habitual actions.

Common Errors:

• Using the wrong aspect: English learners might say "Я увеличиваю картинку" when meaning a one-time action, but should use "Я увеличил картинку" for completion. Error: "Я увеличиваю картинку сейчас" (implies ongoing); Correct: "Я увеличу картинку" for future completion.
• Misapplying synonyms: Confusing "усилить" with "увеличить" in visual contexts, e.g., saying "усилить изображение" for "magnify an image" when "увеличить" is more accurate. Error: "Усилить фото" (implies sound amplification); Correct: "Увеличить фото".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like "увеличить" are often associated with scientific and technological advancements, reflecting Russia's historical emphasis on space exploration and optics (e.g., the legacy of Soviet-era microscopes). Metaphorically, exaggeration in storytelling is common in Russian literature, as seen in works by Gogol, where "magnifying" minor events highlights satire and social commentary.

Related Concepts:

• лупа (lupa) - Magnifying glass
• микроскоп (mikroskop) - Microscope
• усиление (usileniye) - Amplification