amplification
gb/ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/ us/ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
action
1
making sound louder with equipment
making sound louder using equipment
Usage pattern:
amplification of [sound/voice/instrument]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use amplification when they mean volume; amplification is the process or effect, not the volume setting itself.
Synonyms
boosting (More informal and general; amplification often implies equipment.)
|
sound reinforcement (Common in live events; more technical and event-focused.)
Antonyms
attenuation (Reducing sound level or strength rather than increasing it.)
|
muting (Silencing or greatly reducing sound.)
Collocations
sound amplification
|audio amplification
|voice amplification
|amplification system
|need amplification
|provide amplification
|electronic amplification
|stage amplification
|portable amplification
|amplification equipment
Themes
music
|technology
|media
Examples
- The hall is small, so the singer doesn’t need amplification.
- Poor amplification made the speaker’s voice harsh and distorted.
- They installed amplification so everyone in the back could hear clearly.
Learner examples
- This microphone gives good amplification.
- We don’t need amplification in this room.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
making something stronger or greater
making something stronger or bigger
Usage pattern:
amplification of [effect/problem/fear/impact]
Common mistake:
Amplification is typically used for increases in impact or intensity; for simple size increases, increase or growth is often more natural.
Synonyms
intensification (Focuses on becoming more intense rather than broader in reach.)
|
escalation (Often implies a step-by-step worsening, especially in conflict.)
Antonyms
reduction (A decrease in amount or intensity.)
|
de-escalation (A calming or lowering of conflict or tension.)
Collocations
amplification of fears
|amplification of conflict
|amplification of inequality
|amplification of risk
|amplification of impact
|amplification of tension
|amplification of effects
|amplification of errors
|amplification of pressure
|amplification of problems
Themes
communication
|society
|business
Examples
- Social media can lead to the amplification of rumors.
- The policy change caused an amplification of existing inequalities.
- Small mistakes in the data led to an amplification of the final error.
Learner examples
- The news led to an amplification of fear.
- This change caused an amplification of problems.
Noun
formal
C1
action
3
adding detail or further explanation
extra details that explain something more
Usage pattern:
provide amplification (on) [a point/statement]
Common mistake:
In this sense, amplification is closer to clarification or elaboration; it does not mean making something louder.
Synonyms
elaboration (More common and slightly less formal.)
|
clarification (Emphasizes making meaning clearer, not just adding detail.)
Antonyms
brevity (Keeping something short with few details.)
|
omission (Leaving information out rather than expanding it.)
Collocations
further amplification
|request amplification
|provide amplification
|amplification of a point
|amplification of details
|amplification of remarks
|brief amplification
|additional amplification
|amplification and clarification
|amplification of an argument
Themes
communication
|education
|writing
Examples
- The report includes an amplification of the earlier findings.
- When asked for amplification, she explained exactly what she meant.
- His second email was an amplification of his original complaint.
Learner examples
- Please give amplification on this point.
- She added amplification to her explanation.
Noun
technical
C2
action
4
strengthening an electrical signal
making a signal stronger
Usage pattern:
amplification of [a signal/frequency]
Synonyms
gain (The standard technical term for the amount of amplification.)
|
signal boosting (More general; less precise than amplification in electronics.)
Antonyms
signal attenuation (Weakening a signal rather than strengthening it.)
Collocations
signal amplification
|power amplification
|voltage amplification
|amplification circuit
|amplification stage
|high-gain amplification
|low-noise amplification
|amplification factor
|amplification ratio
|wideband amplification
Themes
technology
|science
Examples
- The receiver needs amplification to detect such a weak signal.
- Low-noise amplification improves the clarity of the measurement.
- The engineer adjusted the amplification to prevent clipping.
Noun
technical
C2
action
5
copying DNA to make more
making many copies of DNA
Usage pattern:
amplification of [DNA/a gene/a sequence]
Synonyms
DNA replication (A broader biological process; amplification often refers to targeted copying, especially in lab contexts.)
Antonyms
deletion (Loss of genetic material rather than increase in copies.)
Collocations
DNA amplification
|gene amplification
|PCR amplification
|target amplification
|sequence amplification
|amplification product
|amplification step
|amplification efficiency
|amplification curve
|amplification assay
Themes
science
|health
Examples
- PCR allows rapid amplification of tiny amounts of DNA.
- The test failed because the amplification step didn’t work properly.
- Gene amplification can contribute to drug resistance in some cancers.
Noun
technical
C2
action
6
repeating to add emphasis
a writing or speaking method that adds emphasis
Usage pattern:
use amplification (in) [a speech/an argument]
Synonyms
emphasis (More general; not specifically the technique of expanding or repeating.)
Antonyms
understatement (Deliberately making something seem less important.)
Collocations
rhetorical amplification
|use amplification
|amplification in rhetoric
|amplification for emphasis
|amplification of a theme
|amplification of an argument
Themes
language
|education
|writing
Examples
- The speaker used amplification to make the risks feel urgent.
- In classical rhetoric, amplification can strengthen an argument through expansion.
- The paragraph is an amplification of the central claim made earlier.
Grammar
Dictionary form
amplification
IPA
GB/ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
US/ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
amp - li - fic - a - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 4th syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: amplification
- Plural: amplification, amplifications
Word family
Expressions
amplification of rumors
1/ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən əv ɹˈumɚz/
fixed phrase
formal
rumors spread and grow stronger
when rumors spread and seem bigger
Examples
- The amplification of rumors online damaged her reputation.
- Clear communication can prevent the amplification of rumors during a crisis.
- They apologized for contributing to the amplification of rumors.
gene amplification
1/d͡ʒˈin ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
more copies of a gene
when a cell has extra copies of a gene
Examples
- The researchers found gene amplification in the tumor samples.
- Gene amplification can lead to overproduction of certain proteins.
- The report discusses gene amplification as a possible cause of resistance.
need amplification
1/nˈid ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
require equipment to be heard
need a microphone or speakers to be loud enough
Examples
- In a stadium, even a strong voice needs amplification.
- The piano doesn’t need amplification in this small room.
- His presentation needed amplification because the sound system was weak.
signal amplification
1/sˈɪɡnəl ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
making a signal stronger
making a weak signal stronger
Examples
- Signal amplification is necessary when the input is very weak.
- The circuit provides signal amplification without adding much noise.
- Poor signal amplification caused the transmission to break up.
sound amplification
1/sˈaʊnd ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
making sound louder electronically
equipment and process that make sound louder
Examples
- The venue provides sound amplification for conferences and concerts.
- Good sound amplification can make a small band fill a large room.
- They hired a technician to handle the sound amplification.
without amplification
1/wɪðˈaʊt ˌæmpləfɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
not using electronic loudness
without using a microphone or speakers
Examples
- She sang without amplification, and the room fell silent to listen.
- The band agreed to play without amplification for the acoustic set.
- In that venue, even a quiet voice carries without amplification.