amplifier

amplifier — noun

1. a piece of electrical equipment, often used with musical instruments or a stereo

1.nounB2
Definition

a piece of electrical equipment, often used with musical instruments or a stereo, that takes a weak audio signal and boosts its power so the sound comes out of the speakers much louder.

Example

Bao plugged his electric guitar into the amplifier and started warming up.

plug [instrument] into the amplifier

The old valve amplifier in Grandpa's basement gave the music a warm, rich tone.

valve amplifier — common collocation

Common collocations
  • guitar amplifier
  • valve amplifier
  • plug into an amplifier
  • turn up the amplifier
  • powerful amplifier
Synonyms
  • amp

    informal short form, common among musicians

  • loudspeaker system

    broader — includes the speakers as well as the amplifier

  • PA system

    a complete public-address setup for speech or live music, larger than a single amplifier

Grammar Patterns

plug [instrument] into an amplifier

connect [device] to an amplifier

Usage Note

Often shortened to 'amp' in casual speech, especially among musicians (e.g. 'guitar amp'). The full form 'amplifier' is preferred in writing and in technical or retail contexts.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new speaker amplifier to play my guitar' (when you mean the speaker itself).
I bought a new amplifier and a pair of speakers.
the amplifier boosts the signal; the speakers turn it into sound.
Please open the amplifier.
Please turn on the amplifier.
use 'turn on/off', not 'open/close', for electrical equipment in English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words live in the world of making sound louder, but they refer to different parts of the chain. An 'amplifier' is the box that takes a weak electrical signal from a guitar, microphone, or stereo and boosts its power. 'Amp' is just the everyday short form — musicians say 'I left my amp in the van', never 'my amplifier'. A 'loudspeaker' (or simply 'speaker') is a separate piece — the cone that actually turns the boosted signal into sound waves you can hear; an amplifier needs speakers to be useful. A 'PA system' (public-address system) is the whole package used for speeches or live shows — microphones, mixer, amplifier, and speakers together. So: 'The PA system uses a 500-watt amplifier and four speakers; the band brought their own guitar amps as well.'

amplifier ↗amploudspeaker ↗PA system

Common collocations

Nouns

  • guitar amplifier
  • bass amplifier
  • valve amplifier
  • headphone amplifier
  • stereo amplifier

Phrases

  • plug into an amplifier
  • turn up the amplifier
  • connect to an amplifier

Prepositions

  • into an amplifier
  • through an amplifier
  • on the amplifier

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The verb 'amplify' came into English in the late 1300s from Old French 'amplifier', which traces back to Latin 'amplificare' — built from 'amplus' (large, wide) and '-ficare' (to make). So at root the word means 'to make larger'. The noun 'amplifier' was first used in the 1500s for anything that enlarged or expanded — including a person who exaggerated a story. The modern electrical sense, the box that boosts an audio signal, only appeared in the early 1900s with the rise of radio and the vacuum tube.