enlargement
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The act or process of making something larger in size, scale, scope, or number.
An instance of something being made larger; a larger version of something, especially a photograph; an addition to a structure. In medical contexts, it can refer to an abnormal increase in the size of an organ or body part.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a deverbal noun from 'enlarge'. Carries connotations of a deliberate, often planned, process of expansion or augmentation. Can refer to both physical size and abstract scope.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In political contexts, 'enlargement' (of the EU, NATO) is the standard term in both. In photography, 'enlargement' is standard in both; 'blow-up' is a more informal synonym in both varieties. In real estate, 'extension' (UK) or 'addition' (US) might be more common than 'enlargement' for a house.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and technical in American English. In British English, it may have a slightly wider everyday use, e.g., 'an enlargement to the kitchen'.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, though perhaps marginally higher in British English due to the political context of EU enlargement debates in recent decades.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
enlargement of [something]enlargement in [something]enlargement to [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a strongly idiomatic word]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market expansion, company growth, or increasing capacity: 'The board approved the enlargement of the production facility.'
Academic
Used in political science (EU/NATO enlargement), medicine (organ enlargement), and engineering (scale enlargement).
Everyday
Most commonly associated with printing photographs or home improvements: 'I ordered an enlargement of our wedding photo.'
Technical
In medicine: 'splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen)'. In photography: 'a 10x enlargement'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to enlarge the team to handle the new project.
- The council voted to enlarge the car park.
American English
- We need to enlarge the team to handle the new project.
- The developer plans to enlarge the shopping mall.
adverb
British English
- The map was enlargedly displayed on the wall. (RARE/UNCOMMON)
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- An enlarged prostate can cause medical issues.
- She studied the enlarged photograph for details.
American English
- An enlarged prostate can cause medical issues.
- He showed me the enlarged blueprint of the house.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is an enlargement of my family photo.
- The doctor said there is an enlargement of my heart.
- The enlargement of the garden made space for a new shed.
- EU enlargement has included many new countries.
- The proposed enlargement of the airport faces strong local opposition.
- The technician explained that the blurriness was due to excessive enlargement of the image.
- Geopolitical analysts debated the strategic implications of NATO's eastward enlargement.
- The biopsy confirmed that the lymphatic enlargement was benign.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LARGE picture being put into an ENVELOPE. The envelope must be EN-LARGED to fit it. ENLARGEMENT is the process.
Conceptual Metaphor
GROWTH IS UP/OUT (The company is looking at further enlargement); IMPORTANCE IS SIZE (The enlargement of the issue in the public mind).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'увеличение' in all contexts. For 'increase in salary', use 'raise' or 'pay rise', not 'salary enlargement'. For 'increase in prices', use 'price hike' or 'increase', not 'price enlargement'.
- In medical contexts, 'увеличение печени' is correctly 'enlargement of the liver' or 'hepatomegaly'.
- In the context of a photograph, 'увеличение' maps perfectly to 'enlargement'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'enlargement' for abstract, non-physical increases where 'growth' or 'expansion' is better (e.g., 'the enlargement of his knowledge' is awkward; prefer 'the expansion of his knowledge').
- Misspelling as 'inlargement'.
- Confusing with 'engagement' due to similar spelling.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'enlargement' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its core meaning is physical, it is commonly used for abstract expansions, such as 'enlargement of responsibilities' or 'enlargement of the market'. However, 'expansion' is often a more natural choice for abstract concepts.
They are often synonyms. 'Enlargement' often implies making a single entity bigger (a photo, a room, an organisation). 'Expansion' can imply that, but also suggests spreading out over a wider area or into new domains (business expansion into Asia, the expansion of the universe). 'Expansion' is generally more common for abstract growth.
In common parlance, yes. In formal medical/surgical contexts, the terms 'augmentation mammoplasty' or 'breast augmentation' are more precise. 'Enlargement' is the understandable layperson's term.
No, 'enlargement' is exclusively a noun. The verb form is 'to enlarge' (e.g., 'They plan to enlarge the office').
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