I. ˈməltəˌplī verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicare, from multiplic-, multiplex multiple — more at multiple
transitive verb
1. : to increase in number especially greatly or in multiples : make more numerous : add quantity to : amplify , augment
the spread of such a prejudice may multiply readers — R.P.Blackmur
no organized attempt to multiply good writings — G.G.Coulton
when an original manuscript could only be multiplied by handwritten copies — G.F.Hudson
inspiring other property owners to multiply their prices — Louise Levitas
ask you not to multiply those errors into misfortunes for all of us — Irving Stone
commerce multiplied wealth and comfort — Stringfellow Barr
2.
a. : to find the product : perform multiplication on
b. : to combine with (another number) by multiplication
3. obsolete : magnify
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to become greater in number : increase in extent : spread
as time passed, the forges and the furnaces multiplied — Desmond Sprague
the natural secrecy in which errors breed and multiply — Norman Cousins
b. : breed , propagate
every species of animals naturally multiplies in proportion to the means of their subsistence, and no species can ever multiply beyond it — Adam Smith
allows virus to multiply more than a millionfold — Monsanto Magazine
2. : to perform the mathematical operation of multiplication
Synonyms: see increase
•
- multiply the earth
- multiply words
II. ˈməltəplē, -li adverb
Etymology: multiple (I) + -ly
: in a multiple manner : in several or many ways : in multiple
the use of multiply applicable names — A.I.Melden
that physical objects are multiply accessible to different people — J.W.Yolton
III. ˈməltəˌplī noun
( -es )
Etymology: multiply , verb
: an instance of multiplication performed by a computer ; also : the means for performing multiplication