First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
amplify
verb am·pli·fy \-ˌfī\
: to increase the strength of (an electric signal)
: to make (something, such as a musical instrument) louder by increasing the strength of electric signals
: to give more information about (something, such as a statement) : to speak or write about (something) in a more complete way
am·pli·fiedam·pli·fy·ing
Full Definition of AMPLIFY
transitive verb
1
: to expand (as a statement) by the use of detail or illustration or by closer analysis
2
a : to make larger or greater (as in amount, importance, or intensity) : increase b : to increase the strength or amount of; especially : to make louder c : to cause (a gene or DNA sequence) to undergo amplification
intransitive verb
: to expand one's remarks or ideas
See amplify defined for English-language learners
See amplify defined for kids
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Origin of AMPLIFY
Middle English amplifien, from Middle French amplifier, from Latin amplificare, from amplus
Related to AMPLIFY
- Synonyms
- expand, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), flesh (out)
- Antonyms
- abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten
Synonym Discussion of AMPLIFY
expand, amplify, swell, distend, inflate, dilate mean to increase in size or volume. expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (as growth, unfolding, addition of parts) <a business that expands every year>. amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate <amplify the statement with details>. swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits <the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions>. distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within <a distended abdomen>. inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse <an inflated ego>. dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference <dilated pupils>.
Rhymes with AMPLIFY
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
AMPLIFY Defined for Kids
amplify
verb am·pli·fy \ˈam-plə-ˌfī\
am·pli·fiedam·pli·fy·ing
Definition of AMPLIFY for Kids
1
: to make louder or greater <A megaphone amplifies your voice.>
2
: to give more information about <amplify a statement>
— am·pli·fi·ca·tion \ˌam-plə-fə-ˈkā-shən\ noun
Medical Dictionary
amplify
transitive verb am·pli·fy \-ˌfī\
am·pli·fiedam·pli·fy·ing
Medical Definition of AMPLIFY
1
: to make larger or greater (as in amount or intensity)
2
: to increase the strength or amount of; especially : to make louder
3
: to cause (a gene or DNA sequence) to undergo amplification
Learn More About AMPLIFY
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