amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

: the extent or range of a quality, property, process, or phenomenon: such as

a

: the extent of a vibratory movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the mean position to an extreme

b

: the maximum departure of the value of an alternating current or wave from the average value

2

: extent of dignity, excellence, or splendor

3

: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance

… the long unerring lines, the sweep and amplitude of the great artist's stroke …

—Edith Wharton

4

mathematics : the angle assigned to a complex number when it is plotted in a complex plane using polar coordinates

called also argument

compare absolute value sense 2

5

: the height achieved on a jump by a snowboarder, skateboarder, skier, etc.

" … a lot of my strength in snowboarding is my amplitude … "

—Shaun White

Synonyms

• ambit
• breadth
• compass
• confines
• dimension(s)
• extent
• range
• reach
• realm
• scope
• sweep
• width

Examples of amplitude in a Sentence

the amplitude of Thomas Jefferson's interests—government, architecture, agriculture, science, philosophy—is truly awesome

Recent Examples on the Web

People who are telling the truth usually speak in a consistent way, Clemente says; those who are lying are likely to have a broken rate, with variations in pitch and amplitude. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024

Such large amplitudes create obvious variations of magnetic field. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2024

This constrained the amplitude of the sound waves that could be generated. —IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2024

Optimal amplitude while feathering generated the largest thrust. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 July 2023

First, Renaud honed in on the micro-rotor’s key weakness: to function properly, the micro-rotor, in its current design, requires a large amplitude of movement to produce energy. —Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024

The battery would provide an electric impulse to keep the pendulum swinging, by opening and closing a circuit depending on the amplitude of the pendulum swing. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Feb. 2024

Frequency refers to how fast the Oh! vibrates, while amplitude controls the intensity. —Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Jan. 2024

Essentially, the amplitude is the size of the disturbance. —Rhett Allain, WIRED, 15 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin amplitūdin-, amplitūdō "size, extent, eminence, prestige," from amplus "more than adequate in size or extent, ample, eminent" + -i- -i- + -tūdin-, -tūdō -tude

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing amplitude

• amplitude modulation

Kids Definition

amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance

2

: extent sense 1, range

3

a

: the extent of a back-and-forth movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the midpoint to an extreme

b

: one half of the up-and-down extent of the vibration of a wave (as of alternating current)

Medical Definition

amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd 

: the extent or range of a quality, property, process, or phenomenon: as

a

: the extent of a vibratory movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the mean position to an extreme

b

: the maximum departure of the value of an alternating current or wave from the average value