förstoras

Förstoras is the present passive form of the Swedish verb förstora, meaning to enlarge or magnify. The active present form is förstorar, used when the subject performs the enlargement. The passive form is used when the enlargement is performed by an unspecified agent or by a process, and it is commonly found in technical, scientific, or descriptive contexts.

Etymology and meaning: förstora is built from the adjective stor (large) with the prefix för-, indicating increase or expansion. Förstoras, as the passive, indicates that something is being made larger rather than naming who is doing the enlarging. In addition to physical enlargement, förstora can also be used figuratively to mean exaggerating or overstating something.

Usage and examples: In imaging and printing, you might encounter a sentence like “Bilden förstoras i bildredigeringsprogrammet,” meaning the image is enlarged in the editing software. In cartography or display settings, terms like “förstoringsfaktor” refer to the magnification factor. The word also appears in figurative language: “att förstora en händelse” means to exaggerate or overstate the importance of an event. The form is typically encountered in neutral or descriptive prose, rather than as active narration of a person performing the action.

Related terms: förstora (to enlarge), förstoring (enlargement), förstorad/förstorat (enlarged, enlarged), förstoringsglas (magnifying glass). The concept is closely tied to devices and processes that increase size, scale, or apparent importance.