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enlarger

enlarger

1 6.2
A machine that makes bigger photos from film negatives
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈlɑrdʒər/
  • Specialized
: ampliador
  • The photographer carefully adjusted the settings on the enlarger to produce a larger image from the negative.
  • camera and enlarger
  • enlarger with the negative
  • condenser enlarger

Examples

  • The first piece of equipment needed is an enlarger; any enlarger will do.

    Academic text (1995)
  • A view camera, film, and an enlarger work essentially the same as they always have.

    Academic text (2004)
  • If you get a 4 x 5 enlarger, you will still be able to use these lenses.

    Academic text (1997)
  • In the kitchen section, a mass of photographic equipment includes an enlarger on the table and a flash camera.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • To guide you in printing on the enlarger, I find an exposure of f32 at about 2 seconds is perfect.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Photo 3 shows an old, but again functional, 4 x 5 condenser enlarger.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The 35mm slide is laid on the mask on the enlarger head.

    Academic text (2003)
  • I use an Omega color enlarger with a dichroic head.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The exposure was made by the enlarger (without a negative in the carrier) for three seconds at f/8.

    Academic text (1994)
  • New 4x5 enlargers start at about a grand for the chassis and a head.

    Academic text (1997)

Surface Forms

enlarger singular
enlargers plural

Morphology

enlarger = enlarge (transparent) = en + large + er

Regular nominalization of the verb 'enlarge' with '-er' yields an instrument or agent meaning (device or person that enlarges), which is directly inferable.

Etymology

The word enlarger comes from the parts en- 'make', large 'big', and -er 'one who' or 'thing that does'. So an enlarger is literally a device that 'makes things bigger', which fits the darkroom machine used to make larger photographic prints.