multi

¹

[ muhl-tee, -tahy ]

noun

, plural mul·tis.

1. a pattern of several colors or hues, usually in stripes:

   This dress comes in pink or green multi.

adjective

1. multicolored.

multi-

²

1. a combining form meaning “many,” “much,” “multiple,” “many times,” “more than one,” “more than two,” “composed of many like parts,” “in many respects,” used in the formation of compound words:

   multiply; multivitamin.

multi-

combining_form

1. many or much

   multimillion

   multiflorous

2. more than one

   multistorey

   multiparous

multi–

1. A prefix that means “many” or “much,” as in multicellular, having many cells.

Word History and Origins

Origin of multi¹

By shortening of multicolor or multicolored

Origin of multi²

Middle English < Latin, combining form of multus much, many

Word History and Origins

Origin of multi¹

from Latin multus much, many

Words That Use multi-

What does multi- mean?

Multi– is a combining form used like a prefix with a variety of meanings, including “many; much; multiple.” It is often used in scientific and technical terms.

Multi– comes from Latin multus, meaning “much” and “many.” The Greek equivalent of multus is polýs, also meaning both “much” and “many,” which is the source of the combining form poly–. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article about poly–.

What are variants of multi-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, multi– becomes mult–, as in multangular, from Latin multangulus. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about mult-.

Examples of multi-

One example of a word you may be familiar with that features the form multi– is multiply, “to make many or manifold; increase the number of, etc.” Multiply comes from Latin multiplicāre, which features the equivalent of the form multi– in that language.

The multi– part of the word means “many,” but what about the –ply part of the word? The verb –ply means “to bend, fold, or mold.” Multiply literally translates to “to mold many.”

What are some words that use the combining form multi-?

• multiaxial joint
• multicolor
• multicellular
• multidirectional
• multimedia
• multiplex (using the equivalent form of multi- in Latin)

What are some other forms that multi– may be commonly confused with?

• milli-

Break it down!

The combining form –plex means “having parts or units.” With this in mind, what does multiplex literally mean?