multiply

¹

[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

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

1. To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

Other Word Forms

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

The fan base and its loyalty multiplied this season when “Summer” pivoted to weekly episode drops, creating a nail-biting frenzy over Belly’s entanglements and how her story will end.

From Los Angeles Times

But for a stressed tree its natural defences are reduced and the beetles start to multiply.

From BBC

The booth-oriented Web sites multiplied when their creators saw the phone on other sites and--after calling numerous times--decided to document their own pilgrimages to the desert phone.

From Los Angeles Times

If those nine go about their lives in public spaces, numbers multiply exponentially.

From Salon

"None of the bowlers seemed to be able to calm themselves down and it multiplied," former England bowler Steve Finn told BBC Two.

From BBC

Related Words

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