multiply

¹

[muhl-tuh-plee]

adverb

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

multiply

²

[muhl-tuh-plahy]

verb (used with object)

multiplied, multiplying 

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)

multiplied, multiplying 

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

/ 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

1. To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

Other Word Forms

• self-multiplied adjective
• self-multiplying adjective
• unmultiplied adjective
• unmultiplying adjective
• multipliable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of multiply¹

First recorded in 1880–85; multiple + -ly

Origin of multiply²

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

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

Africa Command, warned in April that Sahel’s jihadists would multiply and threaten regional stability and U.S. security if left unchecked.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Over the course of two years, cultured human nerve cells multiplied and organized themselves into a functioning organoid capable of generating electrical activity.

Read more on Science Daily

Part of the pre-AI debate centered on the amount of homework — with many educators settling on 10 minutes a day multiplied by grade level.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A magnitude 9 or higher earthquake in this region would unleash catastrophic shaking, followed by tsunamis and landslides that multiply the destruction.

Read more on Science Daily

As my dad deteriorated, my records of him multiplied.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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