amplify

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: am=pli=fy

CIDE DICTIONARY

amplify, v. t. [F. amplifier, L. amplificare. See Ample, -fy.].

•  To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like; -- used especially of telescopes, microscopes, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  To enlarge by addition or discussion; to treat copiously by adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand; to make much of.  [1913 Webster]

  "Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much amplified by our English translator."  [1913 Webster]

amplify, v. i. 

•  To become larger.  [1913 Webster]

  "Strait was the way at first, withouten light,
  But further in did further amplify."  [1913 Webster]
•  To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or description; to dilate; to expatiate; -- often with on or upon.  Watts.  [1913 Webster]

  "He must often enlarge and amplify upon the subject he handles."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

amplify, v. (-ies, -ied)
1 tr. increase the volume or strength of (sound, electrical signals, etc.).
2 tr. enlarge upon or add detail to (a story etc.).
3 intr. expand what is said or written.

Derivative

amplification n.

Etymology

ME f. OF amplifier f. L amplificare (as AMPLE, -FY)

THESAURUS

amplify

add to, agent provocateur, aggrandize, aggravate, annoy, augment, ballyhoo, bloat, blow up, boost, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, burlesque, caricature, carry too far, charge, complete, crescendo, deepen, descant, detail, deteriorate, develop, dilate, distend, draw the longbow, elaborate, electrify, embellish, embitter, embroider, energize, enhance, enlarge, enlarge upon, enter into detail, evolve, exacerbate, exaggerate, exalt, exasperate, expand, expatiate, explicate, extend, fatten, fill out, galvanize, generate, go into, go to extremes, heat up, heighten, hike, hike up, hot up, huff, hyperbolize, increase, inflate, intensify, irritate, jack up, jump up, labor, lay it on, lengthen, loop in, magnify, make acute, make much of, make worse, maximize, overcharge, overdo, overdraw, overestimate, overpraise, overreach, overreact, oversell, overspeak, overstate, overstress, parlay, particularize, pile it on, plug in, provoke, puff, puff up, pump, pump up, put up, pyramid, raise, rarefy, rehearse in extenso, relate at large, sharpen, shock, short, short-circuit, sour, spell out, step down, step up, stiffen, stretch, stretch the truth, sufflate, supplement, swell, switch off, switch on, talk big, talk in superlatives, thicken, tout, travesty, turn off, turn on, unfold, up, widen, work out, worsen

ROGET THESAURUS

amplify

Diffuseness

VB be diffuse, run out on, descant, expatiate, enlarge, dilate, amplify, expand, inflate, launch out, branch out, rant, maunder, prose, harp upon, dwell on, insist upon, digress, ramble, battre la campagne, beat about the bush, perorate, spin a long yarn, protract, spin out, swell out, draw out, battologize.

Expansion

VB become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten.

Exaggeration

VB exaggerate, magnify, pile up, aggravate, amplify, overestimate, hyperbolize, overcharge, overstate, overdraw, overlay, overshoot the mark, overpraise, make over much, over the most of, strain, strain over a point, stretch, stretch a point, go great lengths, spin a long yarn, draw with a longbow, shoot with a longbow, deal in the marvelous, out-Herod Herod, run riot, talk at random, heighten, overcolor, color highly, color too highly, broder, flourish, color, puff.