Magnification is the process of enlarging the apparent size, not physical size, of something. This enlargement is quantified by a calculated number also called "magnification". When this number is less than one, it refers to a reduction in size, sometimes called minification or de-magnification.

What does magnification mean in science?

Magnification is the ability of a microscope to produce an image of an object at a scale larger (or even smaller) than its actual size. ... At the present time, magnification is well defined when viewing an image of a sample through the eyepieces of a microscope.

What is meant by the word magnification?

: the act of making something look larger than it is : the act of magnifying something. : the larger appearance of an object when it is seen through a microscope, telescope, etc.