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to make larger, greater, or stronger; enlarge; extend.
to expand in stating or describing, as by details or ill-strations; clarify by expanding.
electricity. to increase the amplitude of; cause in.
archaic. to exaggerate.
to discourse at length; expatiate or expand one’s remarks, speech, etc. (usually followed by on):
the preacher amplified on the theme of brotherly love.
contemporary examples

this only seemed to amplify the backlash against stewart, especially from women.
kristen stewart, star of ‘snow white and the huntsman,’ isn’t deserving of your scorn marlow stern may 29, 2012

“embrace what people love to do and amplify it,” said matthews.
soccket inventors: being young and stubborn helps innovation casey schwartz march 8, 2012

she was determined—for her voice to be heard, and for it to amplify the voices of women throughout libya.
libyan activist pays tribute to slain spiritual sister anonymous june 26, 2014

advancing human rights seeks to amplify the voices of human rights defenders in closed societies.
human-rights activist robert bernstein on alliance with movements.org june 13, 2012

society doesn’t create these disorders, but it can amplify them, and by extension, it can diminish them.
i was adam lanza, part 2 david frum december 21, 2012

historical examples

in some places, owing to the obscurity of the original text, i have had to amplify the translation.
deccan nursery tales charles augustus kincaid

this defence is enough, but it is easy to amplify and reintrench it.
joseph andrews vol. 1 henry fielding

when you are satisfied with one, enlarge it to full size, correct and amplify it, and improve it in form and detail.
line and form (1900) walter crane

rabbi jeiteles interrupted his cl-ss to amplify upon the p-ssage just read.
rabbi and priest milton goldsmith

opposition made it necessary to define his position, and threat made it wise to amplify and explain.
little journeys to the homes of the great, volume 7 elbert hubbard

verb -fies, -fying, -fied
(transitive) to increase in size, extent, effect, etc, as by the addition of extra material; augment; enlarge; expand
(electronics) to produce amplification of (electrical signals); increase the amplitude of (signals)
(transitive) (us) to exaggerate
(intransitive) to expand or enlarge a speech, narrative, etc
v.

early 15c., “to enlarge or expand,” from middle french amplifier, from latin amplificare “to enlarge,” from amplificus “splendid,” from amplus “large” (see ample) + the root of facere “make, do” (see fact-tious). meaning “augment in volume or amount” is from 1570s. restriction of use to sound seems to have emerged in the electronic age, c.1915, in reference to radio technology.