amplify

am·pli·fy

verb \-ˌfī\

am·pli·fiedam·pli·fy·ing

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

Examples of AMPLIFY

1. amplify a weak radio signal
2. a receiver that amplified the television signal
3. using spices to amplify the flavors of the food

Origin of AMPLIFY

Middle English amplifien, from Middle French amplifier, from Latin amplificare, from amplus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to AMPLIFY

Synonyms

expand, develop, dilate (on or upon), elaborate (on), enlarge (on or upon), flesh (out)

Antonyms

abbreviate, abridge, condense, shorten

Related Words

add (to), complement, supplement; discourse, expatiate, ramble, run on

Near Antonyms

compress, contract; outline, summarize, sum up

See Synonym Discussion at expand

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

am·pli·fy

transitive verb \-ˌfī\   (Medical Dictionary)

am·pli·fied; am·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