WordGarden.ioamplification
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌæmplɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌæmpləfəˈkeɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
the act or process of making something stronger, larger, or more intense
the increase of an electrical, electronic, or audio signal in strength or loudness
the increased spread, reach, or visibility of a message, topic, or piece of content
More meaningsFewer meanings
the rhetorical expansion of a statement or idea by adding detail or emphasis
the production of many copies of a DNA or RNA sequence
Beyond the definition
Think of turning up the volume on your radio—that's amplification! Fundamentally, it means making something bigger, stronger, or louder. While a guitarist uses an amp to rock a stadium, a politician might amplify a message to ensure it reaches more voters. Amplification isn't just about sound; it applies to anything you want to make more powerful or noticeable. Even rumors can find amplification through social media, growing from a whisper into a roar.
Amplification is the process of increasing the strength, volume, or intensity of something. Originally rooted in physics and electronics—think of an amplifier boosting a weak electrical signal—its meaning has broadened considerably. It describes the act of making something larger, louder, more significant, or more widespread.
In science, amplification refers to increasing the magnitude of a signal, such as sound waves, electrical currents, or even DNA sequences in a lab. But the word is frequently used figuratively. A news story might receive amplification through social media shares, allowing it to reach a massive audience. Similarly, an emotional reaction can be amplified by stress or trauma, making feelings far more intense than usual.
Consider how a megaphone amplifies your voice, or how a microscope magnifies the visual detail of a tiny cell. In rhetoric and literature, amplification is a specific technique where speakers repeat and elaborate on key points to add detail and emphasize their message.
So whether it's boosting a signal, spreading information, intensifying emotions, or elaborating on an argument, amplification is about making something more powerful and impactful. It's taking something that already exists and turning up the volume on its presence in the world.
Examples
- 1
Live performance
The singer performed without amplification in the small hall.
- 2
Lecture room
The lecture room has built-in amplification for guest speakers.
- 3
Social media
The campaign relied on social media amplification to spread its message.
- Phrasesocial media amplification
extra attention and reach created online
- 4
Stronger concerns
The latest report is really an amplification of concerns doctors raised last year.
- Patternan amplification of + concern/idea
a stronger or more detailed version of something already there
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- signal amplification
- audio amplification
- gene amplification
- amplification of effect
Word family
Explore
- gain
- feedback loop
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- amplificationnoun
Forms
- amplificationspluralnoun