Amplifiers are devices that increase signal strength, particularly for audio systems, instruments, or electronic circuits. They boost weak electrical signals into stronger outputs, enabling clearer sound or higher power. The term covers consumer audio gear, professional equipment, and certain scientific instruments; context usually clarifies the intended use and frequency response.
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"The band switched to high-end amplifiers for a louder, cleaner stage mix."
"She connected the guitar to the amplifier and cued the volume knob."
"The lab tested several amplifiers to find the one with the least distortion at high frequencies."
"We added a booster amp to compensate for the long speaker line in the outdoor setup."
The word amplifier comes from the verb amplify, itself from Latin amplificare (to enlarge, enlarge, to increase). Amplify derives from amplus (large, ample) + -ficare (to make or do), with the suffix -er forming a device noun. In English, amplifier first appeared in the 19th century in the context of electrical engineering as engineers described devices that amplify signals. Early electrical amplifiers relied on vacuum tubes and later transistors in the 20th century, expanding use from scientific instrumentation to audio, radio, and telecommunications. The plural amplifiers follows standard English pluralization, reflecting multiple devices capable of increasing signal strength. Over time, the term has become standard in audio and electronics to distinguish devices that boost power and gain from other signal-processing components. The semantic drift tracks the broader adoption of amplification technologies for musical performances, broadcast, and digital systems, embedding the term in both technical manuals and consumer product catalogs. First known use in print appears in technical journals of the late 1800s as electrical engineers discussed devices for increasing current and voltage in early radio sets, with common usage flourishing alongside the rise of audio amplification in the mid-20th century.
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Words that rhyme with "amplifiers"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈæm.pləˌfaɪ.ərz/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable, secondary stress on the third: am-PLIF-yers. The /æ/ in the first syllable is a low-front vowel; /ə/ is a schwa in the second syllable; /faɪ/ is a strong diphthong, and the final /ərz/ combines a rhotacized schwa with the plural -s /z/. For careful enunciation, slightly separate syllables: AM-plee-fai-ers.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing secondary stress, saying am-PLI-fyers with heavy emphasis on -pli-. (2) Merging /faɪ/ with the following /ər/ into /faɪər/ or mispronouncing the final /ərz/ as /ərs/. Correction tips: keep /faɪ/ distinct before the final /ərz/; practice with a slight pause between /faɪ/ and /ər/; exaggerate the final /z/ to [z] rather than a whisper. Practice the sequence: /ˈæm/ + /plə/ + /faɪ/ + /ər/ + /z/.
In US, you’ll hear /ˈæm.pləˌfaɪ.ərz/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and a clear /ɪər/ transition in -ier, often reduced vowels in unstressed syllables. In UK, non-rhotic speakers may drop the /r/ post-vowel, rendering /ˈæm.pləˌfaɪ.əz/ or /ˈæm.plɪˌfaɪ.əz/, with a shorter /ə/ in the second syllable. Australian tends toward /ˈæm.pləˌfaɪ.əz/ with clear /ə/ and a more centralized vowel in the middle syllables; the /r/ is typically non-rhotic. Across all, the stressed first syllable remains, but the vowel qualities and rhoticity shift subtly.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllabic structure with rapid onset of /pl/ cluster and the diphthong /aɪ/ followed by a schwa in /plə/ and the rhotic-final /ərz/. The transition from the unstressed /plə/ to the stressed /faɪ/ may blur, and the final /ərz/ can be swallowed in rapid speech. Also, the /æ/ in /ˈæm/ can vary with preceding consonants, and non-native speakers often misplace stress or merge syllables. Clear practice on syllable boundaries and final cluster is essential.
The sequence /æm/–/plə/–/faɪ/–/ərz/ requires precise timing; the primary stress sits on the first syllable while the secondary emphasis often lands on the /faɪ/ area in careful speech. The /pl/ cluster can be challenging to articulate cleanly, and the /ər/ syllable must resolve into a smooth /ər/ or /ə/ depending on dialect. Mastery includes ensuring the final /z/ voice is clear. IPA cues: US /ˈæm.pləˌfaɪ.ərz/; UK /ˈæm.plɪˌfaɪ.əz/; AU similar to US but with non-rhotic /r/.
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