v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Enlarged p. pr. & vb. n. Enlarging ] [ OF. enlargier; pref. en- (L. in) + F. large wide. See Large. ] 1. To make larger; to increase in quantity or dimensions; to extend in limits; to magnify; as, the body is enlarged by nutrition; to enlarge one's house. [ 1913 Webster ]

To enlarge their possessions of land. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, and the like; as, knowledge enlarges the mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

O ye Corinthians, our . . . heart is enlarged. 2 Cor. vi. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To set at large or set free. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It will enlarge us from all restraints. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enlarging hammer, a hammer with a slightly rounded face of large diameter; -- used by gold beaters. Knight. --
To enlarge an order or
To enlarge a rule (Law), to extend the time for complying with it. Abbott. --
To enlarge one's self, to give free vent to speech; to spread out discourse. “They enlarged themselves on this subject.” Clarendon. --
To enlarge the heart, to make free, liberal, and charitable.

Syn. -- To increase; extend; expand; spread; amplify; augment; magnify. See Increase. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To grow large or larger; to be further extended; to expand; as, a plant enlarges by growth; an estate enlarges by good management; a volume of air enlarges by rarefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To speak or write at length; to be diffuse in speaking or writing; to expatiate; to dilate. [ 1913 Webster ]

To enlarge upon this theme. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; -- said of the wind. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Made large or larger; extended; swollen. -- En*lar"ged*ly adv. -- En*lar"ged*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of increasing in size or bulk, real or apparent; the state of being increased; augmentation; further extension; expansion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expansion or extension, as of the powers of the mind; ennoblement, as of the feelings and character; as, an enlargement of views, of knowledge, of affection. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A setting at large, or being set at large; release from confinement, servitude, or distress; liberty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give enlargement to the swain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Diffusiveness of speech or writing; expatiation; a wide range of discourse or argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

An enlargement upon the vices and corruptions that were got into the army. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who or that which enlarges. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Photography) an optical device for making copies of photographs larger than the original, having a head for holding the original, a source of illumination to project the image, and a bed for holding the sensitized photographic paper which will received the larger image. [ PJC ]

a. [ OF. follarge. See Fool, and Large. ] Foolishly liberal. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Fool-large, Largess. ] Foolish expenditure; waste. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Larger superl. Largest. ] [ F., fr. L. largus. Cf. Largo. ] 1. Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; -- opposed to small; as, a large horse; a large house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large vineyard; a large army; a large city. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ For linear dimensions, and mere extent, great, and not large, is used as a qualifying word; as, great length, breadth, depth; a great distance; a great height. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have yet large day. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education. Felton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; -- said of the mind and heart. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Free; unembarrassed. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of burdens all he set the Paynims large. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Unrestrained by decorum; -- said of language. [ Obs. ] “Some large jests he will make.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Prodigal in expending; lavish. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Naut.) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; -- said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter. [ 1913 Webster ]

At large. (a) Without restraint or confinement; as, to go at large; to be left at large. (b) Diffusely; fully; in the full extent; as, to discourse on a subject at large. --
Common at large. See under Common, n. --
Electors at large,
Representative at large, electors, or a representative, as in Congress, chosen to represent the whole of a State, in distinction from those chosen to represent particular districts in a State. [ U. S. ] --
To give large,
To go large,
To run large, or
To sail large (Naut.), to have the wind crossing the direction of a vessel's course in such a way that the sails feel its full force, and the vessel gains its highest speed. See Large, a., 8.

Syn. -- Big; bulky; huge; capacious; comprehensive; ample; abundant; plentiful; populous; copious; diffusive; liberal. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Freely; licentiously. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs, four breves, or eight semibreves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Possessing much land. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having large hands. (Fig.): Taking, or giving, in large quantities; rapacious or bountiful. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a large or generous heart or disposition; noble; liberal. -- Large"-heart`ed*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

adv. In a large manner. Dryden. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being large. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. large in area, scope or degree; as, a large-scale attack on AIDS is needed.
Syn. -- extensive, wide-ranging. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. constructed or drawn to a big scale{ 4 }; as, large-scale maps. See 3rd scale, n., sense 4. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. widespread; applying to all or most members of a category or group.
Syn. -- mass. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

{ } n. [ F. largesse, fr. large. See Large, a. ] 1. Liberality; generosity; bounty. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fulfilled of largesse and of all grace. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A present; a gift; a bounty bestowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of “Largesse, largesse, gallant knights!” and gold and silver pieces were showered on them from the galleries. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. greatest in size of those under consideration.
Syn. -- biggest, greatest. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. maximal.
Syn. -- outside. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. larget. ] A short piece of bar iron for rolling into a sheet; a small billet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Too large; too great. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excess of size or bulk. [ 1913 Webster ]