Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Enlarged, especially of a photograph or image: Describes something that has been increased in size, typically through a photographic or digital process, to reveal more detail or make it more visible.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The detective examined the blown-up image of the license plate. (The detective examined the enlarged image of the license plate.)
  • For the presentation, we used a blown-up version of the chart so everyone could see it. (For the presentation, we used an enlarged version of the chart so everyone could see it.)

Advanced Usage

• "blown-up" as a metaphorical descriptor: While primarily used for images, it can informally describe anything that has been significantly enlarged or exaggerated in scale or importance.
  • The minor disagreement became a blown-up controversy in the media. (The minor disagreement became an exaggerated controversy in the media.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blow up (phrasal verb): To explode; to inflate (like a balloon); to enlarge (a photograph).

  • The engineers had to blow up the old bridge. (The engineers had to demolish the old bridge by explosion.)
  • Can you blow up this picture for the poster? (Can you enlarge this picture for the poster?)

• Enlargement (noun): The act of making something larger or the state of being enlarged.

  • The enlargement of the photo showed a hidden figure. (The act of making the photo larger revealed a hidden figure.)

Synonyms

• Enlarged: Made larger.
• Magnified: Made to appear larger, as through a lens.
• Amplified: Increased in size, volume, or effect.

Antonyms

• Reduced: Made smaller.
• Minimized: Made to seem less important or smaller.
• Shrunken: Having become smaller.

Related Phrasal Verbs (from the base verb "blow")

• Blow over: To pass by or subside (like a storm or trouble).

  • We hope this scandal will soon blow over. (We hope this scandal will soon pass and be forgotten.)

• Blow out: To extinguish by blowing; to burst suddenly.

  • She blew out the candles on her birthday cake. (She extinguished the candles by blowing on them.)

Related Idioms

• Blow something out of proportion: To exaggerate the importance or seriousness of something.

  • The news report blew the politician's minor error out of proportion. (The news report exaggerated the politician's minor error.)

• Blow your top: To become very angry.

  • My boss will blow his top when he sees this mistake. (My boss will become very angry when he sees this mistake.)

Adjective

1. as of a photograph; made larger
   • the enlarged photograph revealed many details