amplify

amplify
amplify (v.) early 15c., "to enlarge or expand," from M.Fr. amplifier, from L. amplificare "to enlarge," from amplificus "splendid," from amplus "large" (see AMPLE (Cf. ample)) + the root of facere "make, do" (see FACTITIOUS (Cf. factitious)). Meaning "augment in volume or amount" is from 1570s. Restriction of use to sound seems to have emerged in the electronic age, c.1915, in reference to radio technology.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Amplify — Am pli*fy, v. i. 1. To become larger. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in did further amplify. Fairfax. [1913 Webster] 2. To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or description; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • amplify — [am′plə fī΄] vt. amplified, amplifying [ME amplifien < OFr amplifier < L amplificare < amplus (see AMPLE) + facere, DO1] 1. to make larger or stronger; increase or extend (power, authority, etc.) 2. to develop more fully, as with details …   English World dictionary

  • Amplify — Am pli*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Amplified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Amplifying}.] [F. amplifier, L. amplificare. See {Ample}, { fy}.] 1. To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like; used especially of telescopes, microscopes, etc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • amplify — I verb add to, augment, delineate, develop, elaborate, enlarge, expand, extend, increase, specify, specify in greater detail II index accrue (increase), accumulate (enlarge), aggravate ( …   Law dictionary

  • amplify — *expand, swell, distend, dilate, inflate Analogous words: develop (see MATURE): enlarge, augment (see INCREASE) Antonyms: abridge, condense Contrasted words: *shorten, abbreviate: *contract, compress …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • amplify — [v] increase in size or effect add, augment, beef up*, boost, build up, deepen, develop, elaborate, enlarge, exaggerate, expand, expatiate, extend, flesh out*, heighten, hike up*, inflate, intensify, jack up*, lengthen, magnify, pad, pyramid,… …   New thesaurus

  • amplify — ► VERB (amplifies, amplified) 1) increase the volume or strength of (sound or electrical signals). 2) add detail to (a story or statement). DERIVATIVES amplification noun. ORIGIN Latin amplificare, from amplus large, abundant …   English terms dictionary

  • amplify — [[t]æ̱mplɪfaɪ[/t]] amplifies, amplifying, amplified 1) VERB If you amplify a sound, you make it louder, usually by using electronic equipment. [V n] This landscape seemed to trap and amplify sounds... [V n] The music was amplified with… …   English dictionary

  • amplify — verb Amplify is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑microphone Amplify is used with these nouns as the object: ↑effect, ↑signal …   Collocations dictionary

  • amplify — UK [ˈæmplɪˌfaɪ] / US verb [transitive] Word forms amplify : present tense I/you/we/they amplify he/she/it amplifies present participle amplifying past tense amplified past participle amplified 1) to make sounds louder 2) formal to explain… …   English dictionary

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