amplitude

American  

[am-pli-tood, -tyood] / ˈæm plɪˌtud, -ˌtyud /

noun

1. the state or quality of being ample, especially as to breadth or width; largeness; greatness of extent.

2. large or full measure; abundance; copiousness.

3. mental range, scope, or capacity.

4. Physics. the absolute value of the maximum displacement from a zero value during one period of an oscillation.

5. Electricity. the maximum deviation of an alternating current from its average value.

6. Astronomy. the arc of the horizon measured from the east or west point to the point where a vertical circle through a heavenly body would intersect the horizon.

7. Mathematics. argument.

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amplitude British  

/ ˈæmplɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. greatness of extent; magnitude

2. abundance or copiousness

3. breadth or scope, as of the mind

4. astronomy the angular distance along the horizon measured from true east or west to the point of intersection of the vertical circle passing through a celestial body

5. Also called: argument.  maths (of a complex number) the angle that the vector representing the complex number makes with the positive real axis. If the point ( x, y ) has polar coordinates ( r, θ ), the amplitude of x + i y is θ , that is, arctan y/x Compare modulus See also Argand diagram

6. physics the maximum variation from the zero or mean value of a periodically varying quantity

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amplitude Scientific  

/ ăm′plĭ-to̅o̅d′ /

1. Physics One half the full extent of a vibration, oscillation, or wave. The amplitude of an ocean wave is the maximum height of the wave crest above the level of calm water, or the maximum depth of the wave trough below the level of calm water. The amplitude of a pendulum swinging through an angle of 90° is 45°.

2. Physics Compare frequency

3. Electronics The amount by which a voltage or current changes from zero or an average value.

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amplitude Cultural  

1. In physics, the height of a crest (or the depth of a trough) of a wave.

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Etymology

Origin of amplitude

From the Latin word amplitūdō, dating back to 1540–50. See ample, -i-, -tude

Explanation

Amplitude describes something there is a lot of, or abundance. If people compliment the amplitude of emotion in your poetry, it means you put much emotion into what you write. The noun amplitude describes the depth, breadth, or magnitude of something — in other words, how big or full it is. It comes from the Latin amplus, "large, spacious." You can admire the amplitude of your favorite teacher's intelligence or try to guess the amplitude of a snow storm. In physics, amplitude is a change in oscillation or vibration, and in math it's the angle made with the positive horizontal axis by the vector representation of a complex number.

Example Sentences

Amplitude experienced a setback when an earlier exploration well at the adjacent Elanora prospect didn’t turn up commercial quantities of natural gas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Amplitude: Athletes must land in a designated spot in a sloped area.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

“They need to choose. What’s most important? Technical mastery? Amplitude? Pick five things.”

From Washington Times • Apr. 12, 2023

Jo Burns-Russell, the managing director at Amplitude Media, a marketing agency in Northampton, England, said the four-day workweek had been such a success that the 12-person company hoped to be able to make it permanent.

From New York Times • Sep. 22, 2022

Amplitude: How loud or soft a sound is.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin