multiply
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multiply¹
- /ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
Where it comes from
From Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicō, from multi (“many”) + plicō (“to fold”).
The noun presumably derives from the verb.
verb multiplies · multiplying · multiplied
- To increase the amount, degree or number of (something). The motives to refuse obedience to government are many and strong ; impunity will multiply and enforce them
- To perform multiplication on (a number). when you multiply 3 by 7, you get 21; he multiplied several numbers
- To grow in number. I suspect that cancer doesn't give a rat's ass whether you have a positive mental attitude. It just sits in there multiplying away, whether you are admirably stoic or weeping and wailing.
- To breed or propagate. [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across.[…]Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, and that in several cases these bacteria were dividing and thus, by the perverse arithmetic of
- To perform multiplication. He had been multiplying, but it occurred to him he needed to resolve the exponents, first.
- To be a factor in a multiplication with (another factor). This follows a similar process, counters having to be removed and replaced at each stage of the remaining part of the calculation except the final one, where 2 multiplies 3 to give 6.
Similar: manifold
noun multiplies
- An act or instance of multiplying. The extended instruction set may double the speed again if a lot of multiplies and divides are done.
multiply²
- /ˈmʌltɪpli/
adverb
- In many or multiple ways.
multiply³
Where it comes from
multi- + ply
adjective
- Having more than one ply or layer; multilayered. 2,751,151. MULTIPLY PAPER SACKS. […] A multiply paper bag […] the plies of the side flaps being stepped longitudinally of the bag […]
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: manifold, reproduce, procreate, breed, doubling, multiplier, redouble, double, replicate, divide, propagate, maximize, widen, proliferate, expand, increasing
verb
Similar: manifold
Translations
Every language
verb to increase the amount, degree, or number of
| Español | multiplicar, amochiguar |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 增長 /增长 zēngzhǎng |
| Français | multiplier |
| Deutsch | vermehren |
| Română | multiplica, înmulți |
| Русский | приумно́жить priumnóžitʹ |
verb to perform multiplication on a number
| Español | multiplicar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 곱하다 gophada |
| 日本語 | 掛ける kakeru |
| 中文 | 乘 chéng |
| हिन्दी | गुणा करना guṇā karnā |
| Português | multiplicar |
| Français | multiplier |
| Deutsch | malnehmen, multiplizieren |
| Italiano | moltiplicare |
| Ελληνικά | πολλαπλασιάζω pollaplasiázo |
| Română | multiplica |
| Русский | умножа́ть umnožátʹ, умно́жить umnóžitʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | nhân |
| العربية | ضَرَبَ ḍaraba |
verb to grow in number
| Español | multiplicar, multiplicarse, amochiguar |
|---|---|
| Kiswahili | kuzidi |
| Français | se multiplier |
| Русский | приумножа́ться priumnožátʹsja, умножа́ться umnožátʹsja, умно́житься umnóžitʹsja |
verb to breed or propagate
| Español | multiplicar, multiplicarse |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 繁殖 fánzhí |
| Français | se multiplier |
| Русский | размножаться razmnožatʹsja |
verb to perform multiplication
| Español | multiplicar |
|---|---|
| Français | faire la multiplication |
| Ελληνικά | πολλαπλασιάζω pollaplasiázo |
| Русский | умножа́ть umnožátʹ |
Talk about this word "multiply." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/multiply. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. multiply. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/multiply "multiply." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/multiply.Cite this
@misc{multiply_2026,
title = {multiply},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/multiply},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
