amplify

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/ UK /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/ See IPA manual

Freq #29400

Meanings

1

verb
To make a sound louder.

He used a microphone to amplify his voice across the hall.
2

verb
To make something larger, stronger, or more important.

Their angry comments only amplified the problem.
3

verb
To increase the strength of an electrical signal.

This circuit amplifies the signal before it reaches the speakers.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to make something larger,... magnify inflate

Word family

Forms amplifiedamplifiesamplifying

Derived forms amplicantamplifiabilityamplitronautoamplifybioamplifycoamplifydeamplifynonamplifyingoveramplifypreamplifyreamplifyunderamplify

Related forms ampleamplifiableamplification amplificatory amplifier amplitude

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

amplify sound
to increase the loudness of something that can be heard

Verb + noun

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin amplus Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-fakāō 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.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# amplify

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/
**Frequency rank:** 29400

## Meanings
1. To make a sound louder.
2. To make something larger, stronger, or more important.
3. To increase the strength of an electrical signal.

## Examples
- He used a microphone to amplify his voice across the hall.
- Their angry comments only amplified the problem.
- This circuit amplifies the signal before it reaches the speakers.

## Derived Forms
- amplicant
- amplifiability
- amplitron
- autoamplify
- bioamplify
- coamplify
- deamplify
- nonamplifying
- overamplify
- preamplify
- reamplify
- underamplify

## Related Forms
- ample
- amplifiable
- amplification
- amplificatory
- amplifier
- amplitude

## Etymology
Etymology tree Latin amplus Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-fakāō 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.

## AI Etymology
Amplify is inherited from Middle English amplifiyen, borrowed from Old French amplifier, borrowed from Latin amplificāre, from amplus (“abundant, ample”) plus -ficō. By surface analysis, ample plus -ify. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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