- [countable] multitude (of something/somebody) an extremely large number of things or people
- a multitude of possibilities
- a multitude of birds
- These elements can be combined in a multitude of different ways.
- The region attracts tourists in their multitudes.
- The library offers a whole multitude of books for young readers.
- the multitude[singular + singular or plural verb](also the multitudes [plural])(sometimes disapproving) the mass of ordinary people
- It was an elite that believed its task was to enlighten the multitude.
- to feed the starving multitudes
- to ensure the multitude is/are fed and entertained
- [countable] (literary) a large crowd of people synonym throng
- He preached to the assembled multitude.
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin multitudo, from multus ‘many’.
Idioms
See multitude in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee multitude in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishcover/hide a multitude of sins
- (often humorous) to hide the real situation or facts when these are not good or pleasant
- It's a shabby old sofa but cushions and throws can hide a multitude of sins.
Check pronunciation:
multitude