amplifier
Americannoun
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amplifiers
plural
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a person or thing that amplifies or enlarges.
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an electronic component or circuit for amplifying power, current, or voltage.
noun
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an electronic device used to increase the strength of the signal fed into it
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such a device used for the amplification of audio frequency signals in a radio, etc
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photog an additional lens for altering the focal length of a camera lens
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a person or thing that amplifies
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of amplifier
Compare meaning
How does amplifier compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An amplifier is a device that makes an electronic signal stronger, and it's most often used to increase the volume of musical instruments. If you play electric guitar in a rock band, you use an amplifier. In scientific terms, an amplifier can increase (or amplify) any type of signal, including magnetic signals and optical signals. When people talk about amplifiers, they usually mean the ones used by musicians and sound engineers. If you plug your electric bass guitar into an amplifier, you can make the sound loud enough that your next door neighbors will be able to hear it. You can call an amplifier an amp for short.
Vocabulary lists containing amplifier
1-2-3 Scream!
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Things turned a corner when they found an amplifier with quality sound that was cost-effective.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
The gig was organised as part of a promotion for an amplifier manufacturer.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
They created a compact optical amplifier, about the size of a fingertip, that can strengthen light signals while using very little energy and maintaining full bandwidth.
From Science Daily ● May 5, 2026
In principle, such a plasma can act as an energy amplifier, producing far more energy than it takes to create and sustain it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025
Then they headed down the stairs and to the left of the chamber where that poor old Grisha amplifier had tested him.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
Like their audio counterparts, optical amplifiers can introduce unwanted noise when boosting signals.
From Science Daily ● May 5, 2026
Setting up the business in 1967 he sought to design and build amplifiers with key "tonal" characteristics that were unheard of at the time, namely distortion.
From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026
So I made ‘Planet Rock’ over and I was listening to it on these big amplifiers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 11, 2025
Plus, China is the single supplier for various equipment for quantum computing, including laser diodes, mirrors, and amplifiers.
From Barron's ● Nov. 17, 2025
“It’s hard to say. You’re aware of the amplifiers some Grisha wear?”
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
