Dictionary

amplify en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈɛm.plə.fɑe̯] (New-Zealand)
• /ˈæm.plə.fɑe/ (Australia)
• [ˈɛəm.plə.faɪ] (Canada, General-American) /æ/ raising
• /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/ (Canada, General-American)
• [ˈeːm.plə.fɑe̯] (Australia) /æ/ raising
• [ˈɛəm.plə.faɪ] (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈɛm.plə.faɪ/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃emh₃-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₃emh₃-lo-s Proto-Italic *amlos? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰíder. Proto-Italic *amβi- Latin ambi- Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós Proto-Italic *plēnosder. Latin plēnus? Latin ambiplus? Latin amplus Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin amplificārebor. Old French amplifierbor. Middle English amplifiyen English amplify Inherited from Middle English amplifiyen, borrowed from Old French amplifier, borrowed from Latin amplificāre, from amplus (“abundant, ample”) + -ficō. By surface analysis, ample + -ify.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To render larger, more extended, or more intense.
   • amplify the loudspeaker
   • amplify a microscope
   • amplify an image on the screen
   • amplify the message
   • [T]he fauour of Princes and Magiſtrates noryſheth, augmenteth, and amplyfyeth all artes and ſciences by liberalitie, and extynguyſheth the ſame by miſerable couetouſnes and parcimonie. 1561, Richard Eden, “To the Ryght Worshypfull Syr Wyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and Master Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Citie of London, and Gouernours of the Honorable Felowshyp or Societie, aswell of Certaine of the Nobilitie, as of Marchauntes Aduenturers, for the Discouery of Landes, Territories, Ilandes, and Seignories Vnknowen, and Not before Their First Aduenture or Enterprise by Seas or Nauigations Commonly Frequented: And to the Right Worshypfull the Consulles, Assistentes, and Comminaltie of the Same Societie, Richarde Eden Wyssheth Health and Prosperitie”, in Martin Cortes [i.e., Martín Cortés de Albacar], translated by Richard Eden, The Arte of Nauigation: Conteynyng a Compendious Description of the Sphere, with the Makyng of Certen Instrumentes and Rules for Nauigations: and Exemplified by Manye Demonstrations. […], London: […] Richard Jugge, […], →OCLC, signature [¶ iii], recto:
   • amplify the impact of the project
   • amplify a telescope
2. (qualifier:rhetorical, transitive) To enlarge by addition or commenting; to treat copiously by adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand.
   • GCN asked Gill just who this law was aimed at. "Child abusers" he responded. He would not amplify on what he meant by child abusers. 1981 August 8, Nancy Wechsler, “Michigan May Register 'Sex Offenders'”, in Gay Community News, page 3:
   • Russian state media focused on Putin's trip to Azerbaijan, amplifying minute details, likely in part to divert attention from the uncomfortable situation in Russia by saturating the information space with a showcase of the Kremlin's global diplomatic engagement and alleged successes. 2024 August 19, Christina Harward, Nicole Wolkov, Grace Mappes, Davit Gasparyan, Karolina Hird, George Barros, “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 19, 2024”, in Ukraine Project, The Institute for the Study of War:
   • Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much amplified by our English translator. 1700, John Dryden, Fables, Ancient and Modern:
3. (transitive) To increase the amplitude of something, especially of an electric current.
   • amplify a signal. It's amplified so you can hear the audio.
4. To add content that is not present in the source text to the target text, usually to improve the fluency of the translation.

Forms

Deriveds

coamplify · underamplify · serial time-encoded amplified microscopy · autoamplify · nonamplifying · overamplify · amplicant · amplitron · amplifiability · deamplify · preamplify · reamplify · bioamplify

Relateds

amplification · amplifiable · amplificatory · amplifier · amplitude · ample

Translations (47)

fi laajentaa (translation studies: add content) · sl ojačiti (render larger etc.) · fi vahvistaa (increase amplitude) · pl amplifikować (enlarge rhetorically) · nl uitbreiden (translation studies: add content) · nl aanvullen (translation studies: add content) · nl aanvullen (enlarge rhetorically) · sl okrepiti (render larger etc.) · de verstärken (render larger etc.) · bg увеличавам (render larger etc.) · de ausschmücken (enlarge rhetorically) · pl amplifikować (increase amplitude) · es amplificar (render larger etc.) · es amplificar (increase amplitude) · ca amplificar (increase amplitude) · fi laajentaa (render larger etc.) · ca amplificar (render larger etc.) · fi vahvistaa (render larger etc.) · ru усиливать (increase amplitude) · bg усилвам (increase amplitude) · nl amplificeren (increase amplitude) · de vergrößern (render larger etc.) · vi phóng đại (enlarge rhetorically) · it ingrandire (render larger etc.) · nl uitbreiden (enlarge rhetorically) · nl versterken (increase amplitude) · ga aimpligh (increase amplitude) · ga aimpligh (render larger etc.) · vi khuếch đại (render larger etc.) · nl versterken (render larger etc.) · de verstärken (increase amplitude) · fi suurentaa (render larger etc.) · vi khuếch đại (enlarge rhetorically) · vi khuếch đại (increase amplitude) · fi voimistaa (render larger etc.) · la amplificō (render larger etc.) · ga méadaigh (render larger etc.) · bg преувеличавам (enlarge rhetorically) · it amplificare (increase amplitude) · fr amplifier (render larger etc.) · it amplificare (render larger etc.) · ru увеличивать (render larger etc.) · nl vergroten (render larger etc.) · fi laajentaa (enlarge rhetorically) · pt amplificar (render larger etc.) · mi whakarahi (render larger etc.) · pl amplifikować (render larger etc.)