v.
Pronunciation: ' m ə l-t ə - ˌ pl ī
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -plied ; -ply · ing
Etymology: Middle English multiplien, from Anglo-French multiplier, from Latin multiplicare, from multiplic-, multiplex multiple
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1 : to increase in number especially greatly or in multiples : AUGMENT
2 a : to find the product of by multiplication < multiply 7 and 8> b : to use as a multiplicand in multiplication with another number < multiply 7 by 8>
intransitive verb
1 a : to become greater in number : SPREAD b : BREED , PROPAGATE
2 : to perform multiplication
synonyms see INCREASE