amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌtüd 

-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

Synonyms

• ambit
• breadth
• compass
• confines
• dimension(s)
• extent
• range
• reach
• realm
• scope
• sweep
• width

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

In REM sleep, brain waves are low in amplitude and relatively fast, and the eye movements are rapid, too. —Beth Ann Malow, Discover Magazine, 24 Nov. 2024

The amplitudes take the form of fractions, with a numerator above a denominator. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024

This occurs when an object vibrates after being hit by sound waves at a higher amplitude, like when a drummer hits a drum and the instrument and air vibrate to create a loud sound. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024

This suggests that our brain associates slower, more regular changes in amplitude with music and faster, irregular changes with speech. —Andrew Chang, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2024

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

Phrases Containing amplitude

• amplitude modulation

Kids Definition

amplitude

noun

am·​pli·​tude ˈam-plə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: the quality or state of being ample : fullness, abundance

2

: extent sense 1, range

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 

: 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