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Definition of multiply verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

multiply

verb
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they multiply
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪ/
he / she / it multiplies
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪz/
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪz/
past simple multiplied
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪd/
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪd/
past participle multiplied
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪd/
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪd/
-ing form multiplying
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪɪŋ/
 
/ˈmʌltɪplaɪɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive, transitive] to add a number to itself a particular number of times
    • The children are already learning to multiply and divide.
    • multiply A by B 2 multiplied by 4 is/equals/makes 8 (= 2 × 4  =  8).
    • Multiply the length by the width.
    • multiply A and B (together) Multiply 2 and 6 together and you get 12.
    • multiply something up If you are cooking for more people, just multiply up the quantities.
    Extra Examples
    • The results were multiplied by 1 000.
    • Multiply these two figures together.
    • Your pension is a percentage of final salary multiplied by length of service.
    • The momentum of an object is defined as its mass multiplied by its velocity.
    Topics Maths and measurementb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • endlessly
    • indefinitely
    • greatly
    preposition
    • by
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive, transitive] to increase or make something increase very much in number or amount
    • Our problems have multiplied since last year.
    • multiply something Cigarette smoking multiplies the risk of cancer.
    Extra Examples
    • The film was a great success, with screenings multiplying week by week.
    • Just imagine all the problems we've been having, multiplied a thousandfold.
    • Her bitterness was multiplied by his refusal to apologize.
    Topics Change, cause and effectb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • endlessly
    • indefinitely
    • greatly
    preposition
    • by
    See full entry
  3. [intransitive, transitive] (biology) to produce young animals, bacteria, etc. in large numbers
    • Rabbits multiply rapidly.
    • Protected reserves help tigers survive and multiply.
    • microorganisms that multiply rapidly
    • multiply something It is possible to multiply these bacteria in the laboratory.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • endlessly
    • indefinitely
    • greatly
    preposition
    • by
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicare.
See multiply in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee multiply in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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