multiply

[ muhl-tuh-plahy ]

/ ˈmʌl təˌplaɪ /

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See synonyms for: multiply / multiplied / multiplying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), mul·ti·plied, mul·ti·ply·ing.

to make many or manifold; increase the number, quantity, etc., of.

Arithmetic. to find the product of by multiplication.

to breed (animals).

to propagate (plants).

to increase by procreation.

verb (used without object), mul·ti·plied, mul·ti·ply·ing.

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

Arithmetic. to perform the process of multiplication.

to increase in number by procreation or natural generation.

OTHER WORDS FOR multiply

6 proliferate, grow, mushroom.

See synonyms for multiply on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of multiply

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English multiplien, from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicāre; see multi-, ply²

OTHER WORDS FROM multiply

self-mul·ti·plied, adjectiveself-mul·ti·ply·ing, adjectiveun·mul·ti·plied, adjectiveun·mul·ti·ply·ing, adjective

Words nearby multiply

multiplicative identity, multiplicative inverse, multiplicity, multiplier, multiplier effect, multiply, multiply-connected, multipolar, multiport, multipotent, multiprocessing

Other definitions for multiply (2 of 3)

multiply²

[ muhl-tuh-plee ]

/ ˈmʌl tə pli /

adverb

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

Origin of multiply

First recorded in 1880–85; multiple + -ly

Other definitions for multiply (3 of 3)

multi-ply

[ muhl-tee-plahy, muhl-tahy- ]

/ ˌmʌl tiˈplaɪ, ˌmʌl taɪ- /

adjective

having or composed of several plies: a multi-ply fabric.

Origin of multi-ply

First recorded in 1935–40

How to use multiply in a sentence

You might have heard that to get a dog’s “biological” age, just multiply its age in years by seven.
To figure out your dog’s ‘real’ age, you’ll need a calculator|Bethany Brookshire|August 12, 2020|Science News For Students
When given food, even the most ancient microbes revived themselves and multiplied, researchers report July 28 in Nature Communications.
These ancient seafloor microbes woke up after over 100 million years|Carolyn Gramling|July 28, 2020|Science News
Divide this number by the total number of people asked and multiply it by 100 to get a percentage score.
Seven brand health metrics and how to measure them|Aleh Barysevich|July 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch
For pensions to work, money paid by governments and employees is invested, and the stock market multiplies the dollars to pay for pension checks guaranteed to workers in retirement.
Here’s Where Local Pensions Funds Stand After Losing Billions to the Pandemic|Ashly McGlone|July 24, 2020|Voice of San Diego

As humans clear swaths of forest for agriculture or roads, forest edges multiply, increasing spillover risk from once-isolated wildlife to humans and livestock.
To prevent the next pandemic, we might need to cut down fewer trees|Jonathan Lambert|July 23, 2020|Science News
Idiocies multiply in direct proportion to the accumulating legal rigidities.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A flamboyant, multi-titled, multiply married royal to remember, the Duchess of Alba died Thursday at the age of 88.
Adiós to the Diva Duchess|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Multiply that number by 365 and you get more than 30,000 families who suffer from gun violence over the course of a year.
Joe the Plumber’s ‘Dead Kid’ Callousness|Erica Lafferty|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the assemblies multiply and spread, the disparity between communities has thrown up a series of issues.
Godless Church Services for Atheists Go Global|Nico Hines|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
The Story of Noah's Ark From the Bible’s Book of Genesis|The Daily Beast|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for corn, and will multiply it, and will lay no famine upon you.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
It would be easy to multiply individual cases supporting the same general principles.
A Statistical Inquiry Into the Nature and Treatment of Epilepsy|Alexander Hughes Bennett
It was still summer, and the gnats had begun to multiply to a prodigious and alarming extent.
My Ten Years' Imprisonment|Silvio Pellico
And he is still with them; hoping that they may multiply and replenish the earth, and spread Presbyterianism muchly.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus

British Dictionary definitions for multiply

multiply

/ (ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪ) /

verb -plies, -plying or -plied

to increase or cause to increase in number, quantity, or degree

(tr) to combine (two numbers or quantities) by multiplication

(intr) to increase in number by reproduction

Derived forms of multiply

multipliable or multiplicable, adjective

Word Origin for multiply

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for multiply

multiply

[ mŭl′tə-plī′ ]

To perform multiplication on a pair of quantities.

multiply

OTHER WORDS FOR multiply

Origin of multiply

OTHER WORDS FROM multiply

Words nearby multiply

Other definitions for multiply (2 of 3)

Origin of multiply

Other definitions for multiply (3 of 3)

Origin of multi-ply

Words related to multiply

How to use multiply in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for multiply

Derived forms of multiply

Word Origin for multiply

Scientific definitions for multiply