(~s)
1.
You use ~ to describe things that consist of many parts, involve many people, or have many uses.
He died of ~ injuries...
The most common ~ births are twins, two babies born at the same time.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
If one number is a ~ of a smaller number, it can be exactly divided by that smaller number.
Their numerical system, derived from the Babylonians, was based on ~s of the number six.
N-COUNT: N of n
3.
A ~ or a ~ store is a shop with a lot of branches in different towns. (BRIT)
It made it almost impossible for the smaller retailer to compete against the ~s.
N-COUNT