multiplication

[ muhl-tuh-pli-key-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of multiplying multiply or the state of being multiplied. multiply.
2. Arithmetic. a mathematical operation, symbolized by a × b, a ⋅ b, a ∗ b, or ab, and signifying, when a and b are positive integers, that a is to be added to itself as many times as there are units in b; the addition of a number to itself as often as is indicated by another number, as in 2×3 or 5×10.
3. Mathematics. any generalization of this operation applicable to numbers other than integers, as fractions or irrational numbers.

multiplication

/ ˌmʌltɪplɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. an arithmetical operation, defined initially in terms of repeated addition, usually written a × b, a.b, or ab, by which the product of two quantities is calculated: to multiply a by positive integral b is to add a to itself b times. Multiplication by fractions can then be defined in the light of the associative and commutative properties; multiplication by 1/ n is equivalent to multiplication by 1 followed by division by n: for example 0.3 × 0.7 = 0.3 × 7 10 = (0.3 × 7)/10 = 2 1 10 = 0.21
2. the act of multiplying or state of being multiplied
3. the act or process in animals, plants, or people of reproducing or breeding

multiplication

/ mŭl′tə-plĭ-kā′shən /

1. A mathematical operation performed on a pair of numbers in order to derive a third number called a product. For positive integers, multiplication consists of adding a number (the multiplicand) to itself a specified number of times. Thus multiplying 6 by 3 means adding 6 to itself three times. The operation of multiplication is extended to other real numbers according to the rules governing the multiplicative properties of positive integers.
2. Any of certain analogous operations involving mathematical objects other than numbers.

Derived Forms

• ˌmultipliˈcational, adjective

Other Words From

• multi·pli·cation·al adjective
• nonmul·ti·pli·cation noun
• nonmul·ti·pli·cation·al adjective
• over·multi·pli·cation noun
• remul·ti·pli·cation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of multiplication¹

1350–1400; Middle English multiplicacio ( u ) n < Latin multiplicātiōn- (stem of multiplicātiō ). See multi-, plication

Example Sentences

The team plied their subject AI models with questions drawn from a popular collection of more than 8,000 grade school arithmetic problems testing schoolchildren’s understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

From Los Angeles Times

They’re also able to recall facts and memorize things like multiplication tables.

From Los Angeles Times

All clinical symptoms of malaria are caused by the multiplication of malaria parasites in the red blood cells.

From Science Daily

Perhaps multiplication was too much — here’s hoping subtraction is next in the mathematical equation.

From Los Angeles Times

Posters on the walls are in Spanish and English, helping students practice multiplication tables, read poems, sing songs and do science experiments in both languages.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• amplification