ample

[am-puh l] /ˈæm pəl/
adjective, ampler, amplest.
1.
fully sufficient or more than adequate for the purpose or needs; plentiful; enough:
an ample supply of water; ample time to finish.
2.
of sufficient or abundant measure; liberal; copious:
an ample reward.
3.
of adequate or more than adequate extent, size, or amount; large; spacious; roomy:
ample storage space.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin amplus wide, large
Related forms
ampleness, noun
Synonyms
1. See plentiful. 2. generous, free, abounding, lavish, plenteous, overflowing. Ample, liberal, copious, profuse describe degrees of abundant provision. Ample implies a plentiful provision: to give ample praise. Liberal implies provision from a generous supply (more than ample but less than copious ): Liberal amounts of food were distributed to the needy. Copious implies an apparently inexhaustible and lavish abundance: a copious flow of tears. Profuse implies a still more unrestrained abundance of provision or flow: profuse in his apologies. 3. extensive, vast, great, capacious.
Antonyms
2. scanty, meager.
Examples from the web for ample
  • The risk of rising inflation-the standard penalty for lax monetary policy-is slight given ample spare capacity in rich economies.
  • Breaking stock offerings were sufficient to ample for normal to over-time processing schedules.
  • Bears given ample food reproduce normally.
  • This fungal disease thrives in high-humidity areas with ample summer rain.
  • Large shade structures and manchineel trees provide ample shade.
  • The following two recipes, using pumpkin straight from the farm, are ample reward.
  • Workspace isn't ample, but the stainless dual-burner stove and sink are recessed .
  • First, there was an ample supply of water from the lake and nearby alpine streams to the north.
  • Let's give scientists ample funding to solve potential complications and let the science lead the way.
  • Public workers still have ample protections and benefits, she says.
British Dictionary definitions for ample

ample

/ˈæmpəl/
adjective
1.
more than sufficient; abundant: an ample helping
2.
large in size, extent, or amount: of ample proportions
Derived Forms
ampleness, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Old French, from Latin amplus spacious
Word Origin and History for ample
adj.

mid-15c., from Middle French ample, from Latin amplus "large, spacious," related to ampla "handle, grip."

ample in Technology

language, music
A FORTH-like language for programming the 500/5000 series of add-on music synthesisers for the BBC Microcomputer. AMPLE was produced by Hybrid Technologies, Cambridge, England in the mid 1980s. Many AMPLE programs were published in Acorn User magazine.
(1995-11-01)