multiply

¹

[ muhl-tuh-plahy ]

verb (used with object)

, mul·ti·plied, mul·ti·ply·ing.

1. to make many or manifold; increase the number, quantity, etc., of.
2. Arithmetic. to find the product of by multiplication.
3. to breed (animals).
4. to propagate (plants).
5. to increase by procreation.

verb (used without object)

, mul·ti·plied, mul·ti·ply·ing.

1. to grow in number, quantity, etc.; increase.

   Synonyms: mushroom, grow, proliferate

2. Arithmetic. to perform the process of multiplication.
3. to increase in number by procreation or natural generation.

multiply

²

[ muhl-tuh-plee ]

adverb

1. in several or many ways; in a multiple manner; manifoldly.

multiply

/ ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪ /

verb

1. to increase or cause to increase in number, quantity, or degree
2. tr to combine (two numbers or quantities) by multiplication
3. intr to increase in number by reproduction

multiply

/ mŭl′tə-plī′ /

1. To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

Derived Forms

• ˈmultiˌpliable, adjective

Other Words From

• self-multi·plied adjective
• self-multi·plying adjective
• un·multi·plied adjective
• un·multi·plying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of multiply¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre; multi-, ply ²

Origin of multiply²

First recorded in 1880–85; multiple + -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of multiply¹

C13: from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre to multiply, from multus much, many + plicāre to fold

Example Sentences

Because cancer cells grow and multiply much more rapidly, they have a significantly higher need for copper ions.

From Science Daily

Players create poker hands to score points, but the magic comes from its 150 joker cards which modify the rules and multiply scores in different ways.

From BBC

"If you multiply that same problem for planning processes at local authorities, the implications can be huge."

From BBC

For an outsider like me their size is intimidating enough, but multiplying that feeling is the knowledge that there's no driver at the wheel.

From BBC

That requires a solver to multiply the number of each item by its price and add them together to determine how much the entire basket costs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accumulate
• augment
• boost
• breed
• build up
• enlarge
• expand
• generate
• heighten
• magnify
• proliferate
• propagate
• spread