Depixelate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To enhance the resolution of a pixelated image by reconstructing smoother, clearer visuals; to transform blocky or low-detail graphics into more refined and detailed representations; to reduce visible pixelation in digital images or videos for improved clarity
2. The process of converting pixelated visuals into higher-quality images by smoothing edges and increasing detail; the act of reconstructing coarse digital graphics into clearer, less blocky forms; improving the sharpness and resolution of low-quality digital pictures
3. Enhancing pixelated graphics by refining and adding detail to reduce blockiness; transforming coarse, low-resolution images into clearer and more visually appealing forms; converting jagged digital pictures into smoother, high-definition visuals

Etymology: "Depixelate" is a plain formation: the prefix "de-", meaning "reverse" or "undo," attached to "pixelate." The prefix has been used in English for centuries to mean removal or reversal, as in "decode" or "defrost," so the new word simply means undoing pixelation. "Pixelate" is the older base, built from "pixel," a word formed from "picture" and "element." Adding "de-" produces a verb that describes removing the blocky, coarse pattern that pixelation leaves behind. The process it names is the reverse of what a low-resolution image has undergone.

Synonyms: clarify, enhance, sharpen

Antonyms: pixelate, blur, obscure