Main Entry: ex·ag·ger·ate

Pronunciation: \ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): ex·ag·ger·at·ed; ex·ag·ger·at·ing

Etymology: Latin exaggeratus, past participle of exaggerare, literally, to heap up, from ex- + agger heap, from aggerere to carry toward, from ad- + gerere to carry

Date: 1613

transitive verb 1 : to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate <a friend exaggerates a man's virtues — Joseph Addison>
2 : to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasizeintransitive verb : to make an overstatement

— ex·ag·ger·at·ed·ly adverb

— ex·ag·ger·at·ed·ness noun

— ex·ag·ger·a·tion \-ˌza-jə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

— ex·ag·ger·a·tive \-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tiv, -ˈzaj-rə-, -ˈza-jə-\ adjective

— ex·ag·ger·a·tor \-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tər\ noun

— ex·ag·ger·a·to·ry \-ˈzaj-rə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˈza-jə-\ adjective