An amplifier is an electronic device that increases the power, amplitude, or voltage of a signal, typically used to boost audio or radio signals. It takes a small input signal and produces a larger output, preserving much of the original character while enabling it to drive speakers or other components. In everyday use, amplifiers are central to audio systems, musical equipment, and communication devices.
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- You might flatten the second syllable, saying am-PLIF-er instead of am-PLI-fier. To fix, hold the /ˈplɪ/ before moving to the /faɪ/; keep /faɪ/ as a crisp diphthong, not a long /fi/.- In casual speech, the final -er often becomes a reduced /ə/; practice articulating a full /ər/ in American pronunciation and a clear /ə/ or /ɪə/ in UK. - Many learners mispronounce 'amplifier' as 'am-plifer' dropping the /aɪ/; ensure your mouth moves from /ɪ/ into /aɪ/ with a light glide. Tips: practice with segmented syllables: am / plɪ / faɪ / ər, then blend.
- US: emphasize rhotic ending /-ər/, keep /ɪ/ before /faɪ/ crisp; avoid turning /faɪər/ into /fiər/. - UK: may reduce final /ər/ to /ə/; aim for /æmˈplɪfɪə/ with a clear /ɪ/ then /ə/. - AU: similar to UK, but vowels often less compressive; keep /ɪ/ and /ə/ distinct; rhotics are less pronounced; IPA: US /æmˈplɪfaɪər/; UK /æmˈplɪfɪə/; AU /æmˈplɪfɪə/.
"The guitarist plugged the guitar into a yellow amplifier and started playing."
"The studio upgraded its PA system with a high-power amplifier for clearer sound at large venues."
"This amplifier clip shows how the signal remains clean at higher volumes."
"Researchers tested a new amplifier design to improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments."
amplifier comes from the root word amplify, which traces to Latin amplificare (to swell, enlarge), formed from amplus (large, spacious) and -ificare (to make or do). The noun amplifier first appeared in English in the late 19th to early 20th centuries as electrical engineering flourished. Early use related to devices that increased the strength of electrical signals, particularly radio and audio circuits. The concept evolved from telephony and radio technology, where amplifiers were necessary to overcome transmission losses and drive loudspeakers. Over the decades, amplifier technology expanded from vacuum tubes to transistors and integrated circuits, broadening into consumer audio, home theatre, and professional sound reinforcement. The term now commonly encompasses any device that magnifies electrical signals, including specialized audio amplifiers, instrumentation amplifiers, and op-amp-based designs. The evolution mirrors broader shifts in electronics, from simple, linear gain stages to complex, high-fidelity, and digitally controlled amplification, with the core idea remaining the same: convert a small input signal into a larger, usable output while preserving signal integrity where possible.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "amplifier" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "amplifier" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "amplifier"
-ier sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as æm-ˈplɪ-fai-ər in US and UK; IPA: US /æmˈplɪfaɪər/, UK /æmˈplɪfɪə/. The primary stress is on the second syllable ‘-pli-’. Start with /æ/ as in 'cat', then /m/; the next syllable is /ˈplɪ/ with a quick, clear /l/ and a short /ɪ/; the third vowel is /aɪ/ as in 'fire'; finish with /ə/ or /ər/ depending on accent. You’ll hear a crisp /f/ before the final /iə/ or /ər/. Audio reference: try listening to pronunciation demos on Forvo or YouGlish and align your mouth for /æ/ and the tense /ɪ/ before /aɪ/.
Common errors: (1) Under-stressing the second syllable, making it ‘am-pli-fier’ with weak /ˈplɪ/; (2) Misplacing the /f/ or turning the /faɪ/ into /fi/ or /faɪ-ər/; (3) Dropping the final /ər/ or /ə/ in rapid speech. Correction: emphasize /ˈplɪ/ clearly and finish with a distinct /ə/ or /ər/; keep /aɪ/ intact before the final schwa. Practice with slow, segmented articulation and then blend. Listen to native recordings and imitate the rhythm.
US: /æmˈplɪfaɪər/ with rhotic final /ɹ/. UK: /æmˈplɪfɪə/ or /æmˈplɒfɪə/ in some dialects, non-rhotic for some speakers; final vowel tends toward a reduced /ə/ or /ə/. AU: /æmˈplɪfɪə/ with non-rhotic tendencies and slightly longer vowels; the /ɪ/ and /ə/ may be reduced in casual speech. All share the stress on the second syllable but vowel quality differs in the middle and ending vowels.
It challenges non-native speakers due to the three-consonant cluster at the start of the second syllable /pl/ and the diphthong /aɪ/ followed by a schwa-like ending. The transition from /pl/ to /ɪ/ requires precise tongue movement; the final /ər/ in US adds a rhotic vowel. Practice slowly with syllable-by-syllable drills, then integrate into quick speech.
A common trap is misplacing the primary stress or turning the /aɪ/ into a short /i/ such as /æmˈplɪfɪər/; the second syllable should clearly carry /ɪ/ and the third segment should form /aɪər/ (US) or /ɪə/ (UK). Focus on maintaining /aɪ/ as a distinct diphthong and finishing with a clear schwa-like ending for -er.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "amplifier"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker’s reading of a tech article containing ‘amplifier’, then imitate in real-time, focusing on the second syllable /ˈplɪ/. - Minimal pairs: amplify vs amplifier? Not; choose words with /plɪ/ vs /plə/ contrasts such as ‘pleasant’ vs ‘plenty’ to feel the /pl/ cluster. - Rhythm: practice the stress-timed nature: am-PLI-fier with a slight pause after am. - Intonation: in-isolation vs in a sentence; practice a rising intonation on a question about an amplifier’s specs. - Stress practice: place primary stress on the second syllable; repeat in isolation and in sentence. - Recording: record yourself saying definitions, and compare to native pronouncers; note vowel quality and final /ər/.
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