amplify
verbUK /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/ · CA, US /ˈæm.plə.faɪ/
Etymology Inherited from Middle English amplifiyen, borrowed from Old French amplifier, borrowed from Latin amplificāre, from amplus (“abundant, ample”) + -ficō. By surface analysis, ample + -ify.
1
To render larger, more extended, or more intense.
- amplify the loudspeaker
- amplify a telescope
4 more examples
- amplify a microscope
- amplify the message
- amplify an image on the screen
- amplify the impact of the project
2
To enlarge by addition or commenting; to treat copiously by adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand.
- Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much amplified by our English translator.1700, John Dryden, Fables, Ancient and Modern:
- 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:
1 more example
- 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:
3
To increase the amplitude of something, especially of an electric current.
- amplify a signal. It's amplified so you can hear the audio.
4
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences, Translation studies To add content that is not present in the source text to the target text, usually to improve the fluency of the translation.
- Derived terms
- amplicant, amplifiability, amplitron, autoamplify, bioamplify, coamplify, deamplify, nonamplifying, overamplify, preamplify, reamplify, serial time-encoded amplified microscopy, underamplify
- Related terms
- ample, amplifiable, amplification, amplificatory, amplifier, amplitude