amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌtüd How to pronounce amplitude (audio)
-ˌtyüd
1
: the extent or range of a quality, property, process, or phenomenon: such as
a
: the extent of a vibratory movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the mean position to an extreme
b
: the maximum departure of the value of an alternating current or wave from the average value
2
: extent of dignity, excellence, or splendor
3
: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance
… the long unerring lines, the sweep and amplitude of the great artist's stroke …Edith Wharton
4
mathematics : the angle assigned to a complex number when it is plotted in a complex plane using polar coordinates

called also argument

compare absolute value sense 2
5
: the height achieved on a jump by a snowboarder, skateboarder, skier, etc.
" … a lot of my strength in snowboarding is my amplitude … "Shaun White

Examples of amplitude in a Sentence

the amplitude of Thomas Jefferson's interests—government, architecture, agriculture, science, philosophy—is truly awesome
Recent Examples on the Web The battery would provide an electric impulse to keep the pendulum swinging, by opening and closing a circuit depending on the amplitude of the pendulum swing. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Feb. 2024 Frequency refers to how fast the Oh! vibrates, while amplitude controls the intensity. Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Jan. 2024 Essentially, the amplitude is the size of the disturbance. Rhett Allain, WIRED, 15 Dec. 2023 That enables the user to control both the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations. Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Jan. 2024 In practically every instance, what unfolds has the depth and amplitude of a major novel. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Nov. 2023 Another is based on analysis of the shape and amplitude of the pulse wave, which is the pressure wave depicting the propagation of the blood pumped by the heart through the entire arterial tree, and whose characteristics depend in part on the rigidity of the artery walls. Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 Touching the screen disrupts the wave pattern and alters the amplitude at a specific point, from which Elo's tech can deduce an X/Y coordinate and even the Z-axis depth of pressure being applied. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 11 Sep. 2023 Features smaller than that are encoded only in what are called evanescent waves, which have amplitudes that die off exponentially and are almost completely lost within a few wavelength. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amplitude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin amplitūdin-, amplitūdō "size, extent, eminence, prestige," from amplus "more than adequate in size or extent, ample, eminent" + -i- -i- + -tūdin-, -tūdō -tude

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of amplitude was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near amplitude

Cite this Entry

“Amplitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amplitude. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

amplitude

noun
am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd How to pronounce amplitude (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance
2
3
a
: the extent of a back-and-forth movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the midpoint to an extreme
b
: one half of the up-and-down extent of the vibration of a wave (as of alternating current)

Medical Definition

amplitude

noun
am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd How to pronounce amplitude (audio)
: the extent or range of a quality, property, process, or phenomenon: as
a
: the extent of a vibratory movement (as of a pendulum) measured from the mean position to an extreme
b
: the maximum departure of the value of an alternating current or wave from the average value

More from Merriam-Webster on amplitude

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