multi-comb. form

Stress is usually determined by a subsequent element and vowels may be reduced accordingly.

Forms: Before a vowel occasionally mult-.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymons: Latin multi-, multus.

Etymology: < classical Latin multi-, combining form (see below) of multus much, many, cognate with melior (see meliorate v.) and ancient Greek μάλα very.The compounds having this prefix in Latin belong for the most part to the early or late part of the classical period; they are chiefly of parasynthetic formation, in which multi- = ‘many’, as multangulus many-angled, multicaulis many-stalked, multigener of many kinds, but a certain number of objective or adverbial compounds also existed, in which multi- = ‘much’, as multibibus drinking much, multicupidus desiring much, multiscius knowing much. The earliest English words containing multi- came through Anglo-Norman and French into Middle English (multiply v., multitude n.). The earliest English borrowings directly < Latin were multiplex adj., multifary adv., multiloquy n., multiplicator n., multiformity n., multifarious adj.; they did not become numerous until the middle of the 17th cent. The majority of English words beginning with multi- before the late 16th cent. are related to or derived < multiply and multitude . This is also true for French, Italian and Spanish. Before the 19th cent., most Romance words beginning with multi- are taken directly < Latin. In other Germanic languages, forms corresponding to multiply are attested from the 15th cent. or later; in German, formations in multi- become frequent from the 20th cent., probably under the influence of English. The first uses of multi- to form words within English date from the early 17th cent. (multivariety n., multilateral adj., multinomial adj.); it does not become common until the 19th cent. Formations become most frequent in the mid 20th cent. From the end of the 19th cent., formations in multi- are found with elements not ultimately of Greek or Latin origin (for an apparently isolated earlier example see multithreaded adj.). See note s.v. many adj., pron., n., and adv. Compounds on overlap between compounds in multi- and many- . Compare also poly- comb. form. A reduced vowel in the second syllable may also occur in compounds formed on multi-.The position of the stress in such compounds differs in accordance with the general stress patterns of English, and may also vary contextually.

1. Forming parasynthetic adjectives, with the sense ‘more than one, several, many’. From the adjectives are formed adverbs (e.g. multiserially) and nouns (e.g. multicellularity). Some formations of this kind acquire a noun sense, as multicore, multiengine.

a. In scientific and technical use.

multi-areolate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪəˈriːəleɪt/

/ˌmʌltɪəˈriːələt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈɛːrɪə(ʊ)leɪt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈɛːrɪələt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiəˈriələt/

/ˌməltiəˈriəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪəˈriələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪəˈriəˌleɪt/

consisting of many small areas.

ΚΠ

1861 H. Hagen Synopsis Neuroptera N. Amer. 341 Multi-areolate.

1961 Fieldiana: Zool. 42 116 Subcostal area very wide, multi-areolate, sharply convexly deflexed downward.

multiaxial adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈaksɪəl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈæksiəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈæksiəl/

having or involving many axes.

ΚΠ

1864 H. Spencer Princ. Biol. I. §50. 137 Of multiaxial growth that is discontinuous, a familiar instance among plants exists in the common strawberry.

1924 Amer. Naturalist 58 124 The patterns of hydroid colonies and of certain multiaxial plants resemble each other very closely.

1985 Machine Design 21 Mar. 66/1 The material dissipates energy laterally, and does a good job at absorbing torsional and multiaxial forces.

multibacillary adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltᵻbəˈsɪl(ə)ri/

/ˌmʌltɪˈbasᵻl(ə)ri/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈbæsəˌlɛri/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈbæsəˌlɛri/

/ˌməltəˈbæsəˌlɛri/

[after French multibacillaire (1940 or earlier)] Medicine containing many bacilli; spec. designating mycobacterial infections, esp. types of leprosy, in which some or many bacilli can be demonstrated in lesions or secretions; of, relating to, or suffering from such an infection; cf. paucibacillary adj. at pauci- comb. form .

ΚΠ

1942 Proc. 6th Pacific Sci. Congr. (Pacific Sci. Assoc.) V. 953 In consequence, while the lepromatous form is multi-bacillary, the neural may show few or no bacilli.

1965 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 16 Jan. 188/2 The proportion of cases which are lepromatous (multibacillary) varies tremendously in reported series.

1986 Indian Jrnl. Leprosy 58 79 Finger print patterns of 150 male leprosy patients (100 paucibacillary and 50 multibacillary leprosy) were compared with 50 matched controls.

2000 Austral. Vet. Jrnl. 78 34 Excretion of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Merino sheep with multibacillary Johne's disease occurred daily.

multi-camerate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkam(ə)rət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkæməˌreɪt/

/ˌməltiˈkæmərət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæməˌreɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæmərət/

/ˌməltəˈkæməˌreɪt/

/ˌməltəˈkæmərət/

[ < multi- comb. form + camerate adj.; in quot. 1878 translating German vielkammerig] Zoology rare having several chambers.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [adjective] > having compartments or chambers

chambereda1382

cellulara1728

multilocular1754

cellated1832

pigeonholed1848

compartmented1851

multi-camerate1878

multiloculate1890

multiloculated1899

1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 282 The elongated multi-camerate hearts found in some Crustacea.

† multicapsular adj. Botany Obsolete rare (of a pericarp) having many capsules.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > seed-vessel or pericarp > [adjective] > of or having capsule

bolled1535

bulleda1637

capsulated1646

capsulate1668

bicapsular1686

tricapsular1694

unicapsular1720

multicapsular1731

pyxidated1753

capsular1785

pyxidate1858

1731 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Multicapsular, divided into many partitions, as poppies, flax, &c.

1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. ii. xxxiii. 155 Reseda, with a multicapsular Fruit.

1793 T. Martyn Lang. Bot. sig. M4 A multicapsular pericarp; or, a fruit of many capsules.

† multicarinate adj. Zoology Obsolete rare (of a shell) having many ridges.

ΚΠ

1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 778/1 Multicarinate, in Conchology, is applied to a shell which is traversed by many keel-like ridges.

1893 Amer. Naturalist 27 797 The multicarinate carapaces composing the genus Tropidocaris.

1998 Herpetologica 54 18 This new species differs from the type species..in its smaller size,..presence of multicarinate postrostral scales, [etc.].

† multi-carinated adj. Zoology Obsolete rare = multicarinate adj.

ΚΠ

1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multi-carinated, having many projections.

multiciliate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪlɪət/

/ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪlɪˌeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪliˌeɪt/

/ˌməltiˈsɪliət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪliˌeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪliət/

/ˌməltəˈsɪliˌeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈsɪliət/

Zoology having many cilia.

ΚΠ

1891 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 18 80 The spermatozooids too, are different in the two groups, being uniformly bi-ciliate in the liverworts, and multi-ciliate in the ferns.

1932 Amer. Naturalist 66 495 All the other living pteridophytes..have large multiciliate sperms.

1995 C. Nielsen Animal Evol. viii. 54 The tentacles of the hydromedusa Aglantha have a pair of lateral ciliary bands which are formed from multiciliate cells.

multiciliated adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪlɪˌeɪtᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪliˌeɪdᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪliˌeɪdᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈsɪliˌeɪdᵻd/

Zoology = multiciliate adj.

ΚΠ

1901 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 12 Jan. (Epitome) 8/3 In multiciliated species [of Bacteria].

1989 Jrnl. Morphol. 199 151 The coronate larva..has a ring of 32 large, multiciliated coronal cells that are used for swimming.

1998 Jrnl. Marine Biol. Assoc. 78 183 Each organ consists of three multiciliated cells, a terminal cell, a duct cell and a nephropore cell.

multicipital adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪpᵻtl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪpᵻd(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪpᵻd(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈsɪpᵻd(ə)l/

[compare earlier bicipital adj.] Botany (of a root or rhizome) producing many crowns; (also) derived from such a root or rhizome.

ΚΠ

1857 A. Gray First Lessons Bot. Gloss. Multicipital, many-headed.

1886 Bot. Gaz. 11 253 Rootstocks thick and short, multicipital, ascending.

1921 Science 25 Feb. 1365/2 The apparently juvenile leaves are borne on multicipital branches of tender age.

1992 Brittonia 44 247 It is placed in the genus Ionactis..on the basis of its crowded, multicipital crown, lack of persistent basal leaves [etc.].

multicistronic adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪsɪsˈtrɒnɪk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌsɪsˈtrɑnɪk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌsɪsˈtrɑnɪk/

/ˌməltəˌsɪsˈtrɑnɪk/

Molecular Biology = polycistronic adj.

ΚΠ

1963 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 50 701 This model also allows for the synthesis of different amounts of enzymes produced by one large multicistronic message.

1990 Nucleic Acids Res. 18 4197/1 Many protein-coding RNAs in trypanosomes are transcribed as long ‘multicistronic’ transcripts that are processed into several distinct mature RNAs.

1998 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1373 237 The size of this transcript is similar to the coding region of the omcA gene, suggesting that it is not part of a multicistronic operon.

† multicoccous adj. [ < multi- comb. form + coccus n. + -ous suffix, after French multicoque (1831)] Botany Obsolete rare (of a fruit) composed of many cocci.

ΚΠ

1831 W. Macgillivray tr. A. Richard Elem. Bot. 315 A fruit often raised into ridges, and separating naturally, when ripe, into as many distinct cocca, which open longitudinally..; whence the expressions tricoccous, multicoccous, applied to this kind of fruit.

multicorneal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkɔːnɪəl/

/ˌmʌltɪkɔːˈniːəl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkɔrniəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔrniəl/

/ˌməltəˈkɔrniəl/

Entomology rare = polymeniscous adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > parts of insects > [adjective] > of head > relating to eye > relating to compound eye > having many corneae

multicorneal1883

1883 Q. Jrnl. Microsc. Sci. 23 186 The multicorneal (polymeniscous) eye of Insects.

multicostate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkɒsteɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkɑˌsteɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɑˌsteɪt/

/ˌməltəˈkɑˌsteɪt/

Botany (of a leaf) having more than one rib.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > part defined by form or function > ridge channel > [adjective]

rivelledOE

wrinkled1563

channelled1597

ribbed1597

trisulcated1703

ribby1706

rugose1707

ruminate1800

ruminated1828

striolate?1841

multicostate1849

crested1856

fork-ribbed1858

tricostate1861

bicarinate1872

carinal1872

vallecular1875

carinate1876

bicarinated1880

trisulcate1891

1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §144 Reticulated Venation... I. Unicostate. A single rib or costa in the middle (midrib). II. Multicostate. More than one rib.

1881 Jrnl. Linn. Soc.: Bot. 18 271 Achenia multicostate.

1945 W. O. Howarth & L. G. G. Warne Lowson's Textbk. Bot. (ed. 9) vi. 129 In both types the venation may be unicostate or multicostate, according as there is one chief vein (forming the midrib) or a number of chief veins.

1992 M. Schaffer-Fehre tr. S. Schaal & W. Ziegler Messel iv. 34 In contrast to the multicostate leaves of monocotyledons..which show, at most, simple connections (commissures), the tertiary veins in the Araceae are reticulate.

multicuspid adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌspɪd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkəspəd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəspəd/

/ˌməltəˈkəspəd/

[compare French multicuspide, multicuspidé (1846)] Zoology (esp. of a tooth) having more than two cusps.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > substance or parts of teeth > [adjective] > crown and parts

cuspidate1693

coronary1823

multicuspid1838

quadricuspid1839

multicuspidate1841

quadricuspidate1841

cuspidal1867

intracoronal1940

1838 Brit. Ann. & Epitome Progress Sci. 1839 264 Similar multicuspid molares are seen in a fragment of one side of the lower jaw.

1870 H. A. Nicholson Man. Zool. I. v. 58 Minute spherical bodies covered with radiating and multicuspid spines.

1923 Science 15 June 692/2 In Teredo navalis, the denticles..have but a single cusp. In the Teredo morsei group they are multicuspid.

1990 Jrnl. Molluscan Stud. 56 309 Both taxa have multicuspid lateral teeth.

multicuspidate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌspᵻdət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌspᵻdeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkəspəˌdeɪt/

/ˌməltiˈkəspədət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəspəˌdeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəspədət/

/ˌməltəˈkəspəˌdeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈkəspədət/

Zoology (esp. of a tooth) = multicuspid adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > substance or parts of teeth > [adjective] > crown and parts

cuspidate1693

coronary1823

multicuspid1838

quadricuspid1839

multicuspidate1841

quadricuspidate1841

cuspidal1867

intracoronal1940

1841 R. Owen in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. III. 298/2 The incisors are always very small, the molars generally multicuspidate.

1896 Science 14 Aug. 184/1 The theory that the complex, multicuspidate, mammalian tooth has been formed by the coalescence of many simple teeth.

1992 M. Schaffer-Fehre tr. S. Schaal & W. Ziegler Messel x. 125 (caption) The individual teeth..illustrate, by their specialization into single or multicuspidate forms of different lengths with tearing, squashing, or cutting functions, the different food specializations of these groups.

multicystic adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɪstɪk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪstɪk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪstɪk/

/ˌməltəˈsɪstɪk/

Pathology consisting of or containing several or numerous cysts; spec. designating or relating to a congenitally dysplastic kidney in which normal parenchyma is virtually replaced by a cluster of cysts.

ΚΠ

1936 J. Schwartz in Jrnl. Urol. 35 259 (title) An unusual unilateral multicystic kidney in an infant.

1948 Amer. Jrnl. Dis. Children 76 203 Multicystic kidney..is pathologically unlike polycystic kidney. Multicystic kidney is usually bilateral and results in death of the fetus in utero.

1988 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 31 Mar. 837/2 Another section shows more clearly the complex multicystic nature of the pelvic mass.

1993 Canad. Jrnl. Physiol. & Pharmacol. 71 247 We have measured the activity of enzymes involved in progestin and androgen biosynthesis in the two types of multicystic ovaries.

multidenticulate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪdɛnˈtɪkjᵿlət/

/ˌmʌltɪdɛnˈtɪkjᵿleɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌdɛnˈtɪkjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌdɛnˈtɪkjələt/

/ˌməltəˌdɛnˈtɪkjələt/

Zoology having many denticulations; having a finely-toothed margin.

ΚΠ

1873 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 13 287 The species of this group have the anterior tibiæ sometimes multidenticulate.

1943 Amer. Midland Naturalist 30 311 Mandible well developed, subtriangular, multidenticulate.

1993 Environmental Biol. Fishes 37 139 The jaws bear several broad multidenticulate teeth.

multidigitate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdɪdʒᵻteɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdɪdʒəˌteɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɪdʒəˌteɪt/

/ˌməltəˈdɪdʒəˌteɪt/

[compare French multidigité (Cuvier Leçons d'Anat. Comparée (1800) I. 318)] Zoology having many digits or finger-like processes.

ΚΠ

1849 T. R. Jones in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. IV. 727/2 In all multi-digitate mammalia, such as the Quadrumana, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Edentata.

1899 Science 27 Jan. 136/2 The phylogenetic development of the higher animals, from the many-boned fins of fishes through the multidigitate Dipneusta to the five-toed Batrachians.

1994 Paleobiology 20 276 Genera with elaborate multidigitate apertures declined in taxonomic diversity but not in morphologic diversity.

multiflagellate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfladʒᵻlət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈfladʒᵻleɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈflædʒələt/

/ˌməltiˈflædʒəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈflædʒələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈflædʒəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltəˈflædʒələt/

/ˌməltəˈflædʒəˌleɪt/

Zoology having many flagella.

ΚΠ

1905 New Phytologist 4 143 The absence of intermediate forms between the bi-flagellate or quadri-flagellate type of motile cell and the multi-flagellate type.

1948 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 35 247/1 The zoospores may also be unusually large, bi-, tri-, or multiflagellate.

1992 M. Ingrouille Diversity & Evol. Land Plants 101 In whisk fern..and ginkgo, a multiflagellate sperm is produced with the flagella arranged in a spiral around the pointed end of the rounded cone-like sperm.

multiganglionate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡaŋɡlɪənət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡaŋɡlɪəˌneɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɡæŋɡliənət/

/ˌməltiˈɡæŋɡliəˌneɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡæŋɡliənət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡæŋɡliəˌneɪt/

/ˌməltəˈɡæŋɡliənət/

/ˌməltəˈɡæŋɡliəˌneɪt/

Anatomy and Zoology rare having many ganglia.

ΚΠ

1877 T. H. Huxley Man. Anat. Invertebrated Animals vi. 263 The posterior part of the multiganglionate cord which surrounds the gullet.

multigranulate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡranjᵿlət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡranjᵿleɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɡrænjələt/

/ˌməltiˈɡrænjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡrænjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡrænjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltəˈɡrænjələt/

/ˌməltəˈɡrænjəˌleɪt/

rare having many granules or grains.

ΚΠ

1860 J. E. Worcester Dict. Eng. Lang. Multigranulate.

1863 Philos. Trans. 1862 (Royal Soc.) 152 759 They are pellucid, and afford no indication of a nucleus, either single or multi-granulate.

multigranulated adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡranjᵿleɪtᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɡrænjəˌleɪdᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡrænjəˌleɪdᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈɡrænjəˌleɪdᵻd/

rare = multigranulate adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΚΠ

1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multi-granulated.

multiguttulate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡʌtjələt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡʌtjəleɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɡətʃələt/

/ˌməltiˈɡətʃəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡətʃələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡətʃəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltəˈɡətʃələt/

/ˌməltəˈɡətʃəˌleɪt/

Mycology (of a fungal spore or sporidium) having several or many guttules.

ΚΠ

1887 W. Phillips Man. Brit. Discomycetes 322 Sporidia multiguttulate.

1896 Bot. Gaz. 21 224 Stylospores oblong, 1-septate, multiguttulate, hyaline.

1976 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 63 310/2 Spores..; contents uniguttulate to multiguttulate.

multilaciniate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪləˈsɪnɪət/

/ˌmʌltɪləˈsɪnɪeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiləˈsɪniət/

/ˌməltiləˈsɪniˌeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪləˈsɪniət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪləˈsɪniˌeɪt/

/ˌməltələˈsɪniət/

/ˌməltələˈsɪniˌeɪt/

Botany rare (of a lichen) having many laciniae.

ΚΠ

1871 W. A. Leighton Lichen-flora 90 Evernia furfuracea..dichotomously multi-laciniate.

multiliteral adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈlɪt(ə)rəl/

/ˌmʌltɪˈlɪt(ə)rl̩/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈlɪdərəl/

/ˌməltiˈlɪtrəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɪdərəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɪtrəl/

/ˌməltəˈlɪdərəl/

/ˌməltəˈlɪtrəl/

involving or employing a multiplicity of letters.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [adjective] > relating to expressions > relating to equations > unknown value of > involving certain number of unknown values

multiliteral1817

uniliteral1817

1817 H. T. Colebrooke tr. Bhāskara Āchārya in Algebra 227 Analysis by a multiliteral equation.

1956 D. Jones Outl. Eng. Phonetics (ed. 8) 337 Systems which employ more than the minimum number of letters needed to represent a given language effectively and unambiguously may be called ‘multiliteral’.

multimacular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmakjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmækjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmækjələr/

/ˌməltəˈmækjələr/

rare having many maculae.

ΚΠ

1856 A. Thomson in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. [134]/2 The germinal vesicle is..multi-macular in the large-yolked ova.

multimammate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmamət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmæmət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmæmət/

/ˌməltəˈmæmət/

[compare French multimamme (1868 in Littré)] Zoology having several pairs of mammae; spec. designating rodents of the genus Mastomys (formerly included in Rattus or Praomys; family Muridae), found throughout most of Africa and having eight to ten pairs of teats, esp. M. natalensis.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > mammals > [adjective] > of parts of > having udder(s) or teat(s)

teated1637

uddered1652

multimammate1902

the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [adjective] > of other types of mice or rats

sigmodont1877

multimammate1902

nude1966

1902 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 9 219 I fail to find any point whatever by which M[us] Hildegardeæ can be distinguished externally from the Machakos member of the multimammate group.

1953 Jrnl. Animal Ecol. 22 217 (title) The mortality, fecundity and intrinsic rate of natural increase of the multimammate mouse, Rattus (Mastomys) natalensis (Smith) in the laboratory.

1984 D. Macdonald Encycl. Mammals II. 662/3 The lassa fever virus of West Africa is transmitted through urine and feces of the Multimammate rat.

multinervose adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈnəːvəʊs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈnərˌvoʊs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈnərˌvoʊs/

/ˌməltəˈnərˌvoʊs/

[ < multi- comb. form + nervose adj., after scientific Latin multinervosus (1850 in the passage translated in quot. 1856)] Entomology rare having several nervures.

ΚΠ

1856 W. Clark tr. J. van der Hoeven Handbk. Zool. I. 314 Hippobosca Latr.—Wings parallel, incumbent, obtuse, multinervose.

multinodal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈnəʊdl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈnoʊd(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈnoʊd(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈnoʊd(ə)l/

having many nodes.

ΚΠ

1839 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) i. ii. 160 The multinodal cyme offers no fixed rule in the spirals of its nodes.

1902 Biometrika 1 264 These maxima must arise from the mortality curve itself being multinodal.

1979 Cell & Tissue Res. 199 225 Probit frequency analysis, a graphic method for determining whether a population is normally distributed, skewed, or multinodal.

1990 Silvae Geneticae 39 67 Crown form is a visual characteristic having many component traits (branch thickness, branch angle, ramicorns, forks and uninodal/multinodal branch habit).

multinodate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈnəʊdət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈnəʊdeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈnoʊdət/

/ˌməltiˈnoʊˌdeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈnoʊdət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈnoʊˌdeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈnoʊdət/

/ˌməltəˈnoʊˌdeɪt/

rare = multinodal adj.

ΚΠ

1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multinodate, or Multinodous, many-knotted.

1979 Proc. Linn. Soc. New S. Wales 102 194 Most often, on multinodate axes and particularly in large inflorescences, reduction in degree of branching does not occur alone.

† multinodous adj. [ < classical Latin multinōdus ( < multi- multi- comb. form + nōdus knot: see node n.) + -ous suffix] Obsolete rare = multinodal adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΚΠ

1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Multinodous, full of Knots.

1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multinodate, or Multinodous, many-knotted).

multinodular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈnɒdjᵿlə/

/ˌmʌltɪˈnɒdʒᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈnɑdʒələr/

/ˌməltiˈnɑdjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈnɑdʒələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈnɑdjələr/

/ˌməltəˈnɑdʒələr/

/ˌməltəˈnɑdjələr/

Medicine characterized by or composed of a number of nodules.

ΚΠ

1900 W. A. N. Dorland Amer. Illustr. Med. Dict. 399/2 Multinodular, composed of many nodules.

1924 F. de Quervain Goitre 33 The fourth type is represented by the multinodular goitre with large nodules.

1977 Lancet 14 May 1064/1 Presenting signs and symptoms (i.e., painful multinodular cystic lumps affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues) represent tissue reaction to a foreign substance.

1997 Amer. Jrnl. Surg. Pathol. 21 664 Microscopically, the lesions were relatively circumscribed, often multinodular masses, located in the breast stroma.

multinucleolar adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪnjuːklɪˈəʊlə/

/ˌmʌltɪnjuːˈklɪələ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌn(j)ukliˈoʊlər/

/ˌməltiˌn(j)uˈkliələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌn(j)ukliˈoʊlər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌn(j)uˈkliələr/

/ˌməltəˌn(j)ukliˈoʊlər/

/ˌməltəˌn(j)uˈkliələr/

[ < multi- comb. form + nucleolar adj., after German multinucleolär (L. Auerbach Zur Charakteristik u. Lebensgeschichte der Zellkerne (1874) ii. 92)] Biology having more than one nucleolus.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > substance > cell > cell organelle or contents > [adjective] > having nucleus > having one or many nuclei

polynucleated1857

multinuclear1860

quadrinucleate1863

multinucleated1873

polynuclear1876

multinucleate1877

multinucleolar1882

uninuclear1882

uninucleate1885

trinucleate1887

mononucleated1890

polynucleate1894

polymorphonuclear1897

uninucleated1898

mononucleate1901

polymorphonucleate1904

polymorph1906

heterokaryotic1916

1882 Nature 30 Mar. 523 The sixth internodal cell might be multinuclear, with multinucleolar nuclei.

1924 Bot. Gaz. 77 446 Nine hours after irradiation, binucleate cells, giant nuclei, and multinucleolar nuclei were found.

1970 Science 5 June 1239 (caption) High power magnification of (A) demonstrating..multinuclear and multinucleolar cells.

multinucleolate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈnjuːklɪələt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈnjuːklɪəˌleɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈn(j)ukliələt/

/ˌməltiˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈn(j)ukliələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltəˈn(j)ukliələt/

/ˌməltəˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪt/

= multinucleolar adj.

ΚΠ

1880 Amer. Naturalist 14 481 These animals are really multinucleolate Rhizopods.

1994 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 81 146/2 Bi- or multinucleate tapetal cells, often with lobed multinucleolate nuclei.

multinucleolated adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈnjuːklɪəˌleɪtᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪdᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪdᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪdᵻd/

rare = multinucleolar adj.

ΚΠ

1908 N.E.D. at Multi- Multinucleolated.

1957 Science 5 July 28/2 Other cell types had large, multinucleolated nuclei.

1980 Med. Hypotheses 6 1221 The new approach is used in the search for the elusive haemopoietic stem cell and evidence presented to show that this is also a multinucleolated stem cell which..gives rise to a clone of small round cells.

multiovular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɒvjᵿlə/

/ˌmʌltɪˈəʊvjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈoʊvjələr/

/ˌməltiˈɑvjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈoʊvjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɑvjələr/

Botany and Physiology containing several or many ovules.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > reproductive substances or cells > [adjective] > ovum

oval1646

ovarious1730

oviferous1828

ovular1848

ovulary1848

ovuliferous1848

multiovular1849

multiovulate1857

ovigenous1872

moruloid1880

ovuligerous1888

ovoblastic1922

1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §765 Ovary sessile, 3-lobed, 1-celled, multiovular.

1930 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 17 713 Supporters of the opposing view, namely, that the multiovular structure (follicle) has been derived from the uniovular (achene) are not lacking.

1987 Jrnl. Reprod. & Fertility 81 137 Binovular and multiovular follicles (henceforward called polyovular follicles) have been reported sporadically in most mammalian species.

multiovulate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɒvjᵿlət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈəʊvjᵿlət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈoʊvjələt/

/ˌməltiˈɑvjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈoʊvjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɑvjələt/

Botany and Physiology = multiovular adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > reproductive substances or cells > [adjective] > ovum

oval1646

ovarious1730

oviferous1828

ovular1848

ovulary1848

ovuliferous1848

multiovular1849

multiovulate1857

ovigenous1872

moruloid1880

ovuligerous1888

ovoblastic1922

1857 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Multiovulatus, applied to the cells or compartments of the ovary when they contain a great many ovules: multiovulate.

1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. i. iv. 329 They [sc. ovules] may be very numerous, when it [sc. the ovary] is said to be multi-ovulate or indefinite.

1881 Jrnl. Linn. Soc.: Bot. 18 267 Ovary linear, multiovulate.

1990 Amer. Naturalist 136 167 Any plant species with a multiovulate ovary may exhibit variation in seed number per fruit.

† multipaleaceous adj. [ < multi- comb. form + paleaceous adj., after French multipaléacé (1828)] Botany Obsolete rare having numerous paleae.

ΚΠ

1831 W. Macgillivray tr. A. Richard Elem. Bot. 184 [The spikelet] may be..multipaleaceous,..as in some species of Uniola.

multipennate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɛneɪt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɛnət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɛˌneɪt/

/ˌməltiˈpɛnət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɛˌneɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɛnət/

/ˌməltəˈpɛˌneɪt/

/ˌməltəˈpɛnət/

Anatomy and Zoology designating, relating to, or exhibiting an arrangement of fibres in a muscle consisting of a number of pennate groups, typically producing a herringbone effect.

ΚΠ

1902 D. J. Cunningham Text-bk. Anat. 314 The deltoid, a coarsely fasciculated, multipennate muscle.

1936 Q. Rev. Biol. 11 199/1 It is largely multipennate in form and arises from the entire medial surface of the coracoid.

1974 D. Webster & M. Webster Compar. Vertebr. Morphol. vi. 117 Such a multipennate muscle, with a great many short muscle fibers, has the greatest strength because of the large number of fibers that can be brought into play.

1992 Arch. Oral Biol. 32 49 NMR spectroscopy..was used to examine the multipennate masseter in six adult men at rest and while performing isometric clenching exercises.

multiperforate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpəːf(ə)rət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈpəːfəreɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpərf(ə)rət/

/ˌməltiˈpərfəˌreɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərf(ə)rət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərfəˌreɪt/

/ˌməltəˈpərf(ə)rət/

/ˌməltəˈpərfəˌreɪt/

Botany and Anatomy = multiperforated adj.

ΚΠ

1866 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 156 130 It is roughly hourglass-shaped, and has the multiperforate fossa for the seventh nerve exactly in its centre.

1933 Forestry 7 16 The term multiperforate plate has been used in this paper to indicate any vessel membrane which includes more than one perforation.

1960 K. Esau Anat. Seed Plants viii. 80 The multiperforate plates are scalariform if the perforations are elongated and arranged parallel to each other.

1991 Canad. Jrnl. Bot. 69 1557 One Gomphoneis species (G. geitteri) possesses a stigma that is multiperforate.

multiperforated adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpəːfəreɪtᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpərfəˌreɪdᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərfəˌreɪdᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈpərfəˌreɪdᵻd/

having more than one perforation, having several perforations.

ΚΠ

1928 Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. Multiperforated.

1943 Sci. Monthly Dec. 519/1 Cords, spheres and multiperforated cylinders are some of the shapes which have been produced.

1957 Jrnl. Brit. Interplanetary Soc. 16 207 It is for such reasons as these that the more complicated multiperforated charge..has been developed, which can have small propellent thickness between the perforations without reducing the loading density.

1994 Jrnl. Urol. 151 1059 The use of a multiperforated silicone urethral stent is advantageous for the outcome of this operation.

multipinnate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɪnᵻt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɪneɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɪnᵻt/

/ˌməltiˈpɪˌneɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪnᵻt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪˌneɪt/

/ˌməltəˈpɪnᵻt/

/ˌməltəˈpɪˌneɪt/

[in quot. 1875 translating German vielfach gefiedert (1873)] Botany and Anatomy multiply pinnate, with pinnately arranged components that are themselves pinnate, and so on to increasingly fine detail.

ΚΠ

1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. iii. 195 Whole systems of shoots frequently have the appearance of multipinnate leaves.

1933 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 222 260 The seeds were isolated on the margins of large multipinnate fronds.

1979 Amer. Jrnl. Anat. 154 563 This hypothesis was tested electromyographically in the multipinnate pig masseter by recording simultaneously from several intramuscular sites.

1990 Garden (Royal Hort. Soc.) May 275/1 The foliage is so finely divided that I find it impossible to categorise it as multipinnate or palmate-pinnate.

multiporous adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɔːrəs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɔrəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɔrəs/

/ˌməltəˈpɔrəs/

Botany and Zoology having many pores.

ΚΠ

1830 Withering's Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 7) IV. 273 Multiporous Boletus.

1870 Nature 2 June 95/1 The wood or vascular matter of the thin-walled Calamites consists of multiporous cells or vessels.

1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 5 365 Multiporous septula (rosette plates) are produced where the two funicular cords transect the developing wall.

1997 Internat. Jrnl. Insect Morphol. & Embryol. 26 27 Six sensillar types were recognised [in the Queensland fruit fly]: a multiporous double-walled type.., multiporous single-walled types, [etc.].

multiradiate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈreɪdɪət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈreɪdɪeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈreɪdiət/

/ˌməltiˈreɪdiˌeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪdiət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪdiˌeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈreɪdiət/

/ˌməltəˈreɪdiˌeɪt/

[compare scientific Latin multiradiata, specific name (1758 in Linnaeus Systema Naturæ (ed. 10) 663)] Botany and Zoology having several or many rays.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > inclination > divergence > [adjective] > characterized by radial divergence > having radiating parts > many or spec. number

triradiated1786

octoradiated1828

multiradiated1840

multiradiate1846

triradiate1846

octoradiate1857

triradiala1886

octoradial1890

octoradiant1911

1846 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Zoophytes vii. 113 Cells multiradiate.

1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 105 The acicular structures, which are combined together in various ways to form multiradiate stars.

1995 C. Nielsen Animal Evol. xxxiii. 264 Both the anterior and the posterior ends of the pharynx of other genera may be circular, quadriradiate or multiradiate.

multiradiated adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈreɪdɪeɪtᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈreɪdiˌeɪdᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪdiˌeɪdᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈreɪdiˌeɪdᵻd/

rare = multiradiate adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > inclination > divergence > [adjective] > characterized by radial divergence > having radiating parts > many or spec. number

triradiated1786

octoradiated1828

multiradiated1840

multiradiate1846

triradiate1846

octoradiate1857

triradiala1886

octoradial1890

octoradiant1911

1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multiradiated, having many rays.

multiradicular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪrəˈdɪkjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltirəˈdɪkjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪrəˈdɪkjələr/

/ˌməltərəˈdɪkjələr/

having several or many radicles or roots; (Medicine) involving many nerve roots.

ΚΠ

1819 J. Lindley tr. L.-C. Richard Observ. Struct. Fruits & Seeds 48 Some..botanists..have regarded such tubercles as so many radicles, and have attributed to these genera a multiradicular embryo.

1976 Clin. Orthopaedics No. 115. 68 The importance of a bilateral electromyographic examination is emphasized and the rarity of bilateral or multiradicular findings in simple herniated nucleus pulposus.

1991 Ital. Jrnl. Neurol. Sci. 12 93 The neurological symptoms appeared in two stages. The first, marked by multiradicular impairment, cleared almost completely within a few months.

multiresistant adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪrᵻˈzɪst(ə)nt/

U.S.

/ˌməltirəˈzɪst(ə)nt/

/ˌməltiriˈzɪst(ə)nt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪrəˈzɪst(ə)nt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪriˈzɪst(ə)nt/

/ˌməltərəˈzɪst(ə)nt/

(of an organism) resistant to various antibiotics or pesticides; (of an infection) caused by such an organism.

ΚΠ

1958 Current List Med. Lit. 34 567/3 Findings on a second strain of human M. tuberc. containing multiresistant cells.

1966 Amer. Jrnl. Trop. Med. & Hygiene 15 823/1 The problems posed by the existence of multi-resistant strains of falciparum malaria.

1991 Lancet 5 Jan. 47/1 The susceptibility to 4-quinolones of five multiresistant strains of Salmonella typhimurium..has been evaluated.

1998 P. Lynch Omega i. v. 84 In the whole of Los Angeles County there are only around one hundred cases of multiresistant infections, and a large percentage of those are TB.

multisacculate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsakjᵿleɪt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈsakjᵿlət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsækjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltiˈsækjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsækjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsækjələt/

/ˌməltəˈsækjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltəˈsækjələt/

[in quot. 1878 translating German mehrfach ausgebuchtet (1878)] Zoology rare having several or many sacculi.

ΚΠ

1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 272 [In the Hemiptera] the fore-gut, which is frequently multisacculate.

multiseptate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛpteɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɛpˌteɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛpˌteɪt/

/ˌməltəˈsɛpˌteɪt/

Biology and Medicine having several or many septa or partitions; divided into many chambers.

ΚΠ

1857 M. J. Berkeley Introd. Cryptogamic Bot. §199 The filiform multiseptate antheridia.

1897 Bot. Gaz. 23 369 The spores are multiseptate and hyaline.

1966 Amer. Jrnl. Dis. Children 112 600 (title) Multiseptate gallbladder.

1984 Canad. Jrnl. Bot. 62 2561 B. moriformis var. multiseptata Sivanesan, with multiseptate ascospores, is briefly redescribed.

1991 Radiology 179 429 Four months later he had testicular pain and swelling. US [sc. ultrasound] revealed bilateral multiseptate cystic masses.

multi-sheeted adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈʃiːtᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈʃidᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈʃidᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈʃidᵻd/

Mathematics consisting of two or more sheets (sheet n.¹ 11).

ΚΠ

1947 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 62 488 The function..is to be considered defined on a multi-sheeted surface with branch points at (θ₀, λ₀) and ∞.

1975 New Scientist 20 Nov. 453/3 No approach which uses any kind of statistical averaging will locate a multi-sheeted graph.

1992 New Scientist 28 Mar. 23/3 The linked, multi-sheeted structure of the quantum space-time.

† multisiliquose adj. [ < multi- comb. form + classical Latin siliqua a pod (see siliqua n.) + -ose suffix¹] Botany Obsolete = multisiliquous adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > seed-vessel or pericarp > [adjective]

knoppy1562

multisiliquose1687

vasculiferous1704

pericarpial1809

pericarpic1819

seminal1833

pericarpoidal1890

pericarpal1908

1687 Philos. Trans. 1686–7 (Royal Soc.) 16 287 The Multisiliquose or corniculated Herbs, which after each Flower bear many Pods or horned Seed Vessels.

multisiliquous adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɪlᵻkwəs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪləkwəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪləkwəs/

/ˌməltəˈsɪləkwəs/

[ < multi- comb. form + classical Latin siliqua a pod (see siliqua n.) + -ous suffix] Botany rare having or producing many seed-vessels; also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > seed-vessel or pericarp > [adjective] > of pod or husk > having pod or pods

codded1440

shaledc1575

coddy1601

swaddy1611

swabby1659

siliquous1668

podded1682

multisiliquous1690

siliquiferous1693

siliquose1693

hully1727

bisiliquous1731

siliculose1731

snail-seeded1858

1690 L. Plukenet Let. 3 June in J. Ray et al. Philos. Lett. (1718) 231 As for the Sedum parvum acre fore luteo [Sedum acre, Linn.], it is multisiliquous, or multicornous in its Capsule.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) at Corniculate Plants They are also termed Multisiliquous.

1984 G. Grigson Recoll. Mainly of Writers & Artists vi. 28 What I have called the Situation was multiplex, multipolar, or multisiliquous.

† multispermous adj. [compare earlier polyspermous adj.] Botany Obsolete rare containing or producing many seeds.

ΚΠ

1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. i. iv. 336 The pericarp is..multispermous.

multispicular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspɪkjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspɪkjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪkjələr/

/ˌməltəˈspɪkjələr/

Zoology having many spicules.

ΚΠ

1863 Philos. Trans. 1862 (Royal Soc.) 152 827 A portion of the dermal surface.., showing the multispicular network for the support of the dermal membrane.

1902 Proc. Zool. Soc. ii. 210 In one of the two specimens [of sponges] in the collection..there are a few multispicular strands in the otherwise very regular unispicular meshwork.

1993 Ophelia 38 107 The skeletal organization conforms to the species' original description, with multispicular tracts of the ‘nail’ spicules typical of this genus.

multispiculate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspɪkjᵿlət/

/ˌmʌltɪˈspɪkjᵿleɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspɪkjələt/

/ˌməltiˈspɪkjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪkjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪkjəˌleɪt/

/ˌməltəˈspɪkjələt/

/ˌməltəˈspɪkjəˌleɪt/

Zoology = multispicular adj.

ΚΠ

1861 Proc. Royal Soc. 11 373 Multispiculate keratose fibre.

1900 Proc. Zool. Soc. 139 The meshes of the reticulum are multispiculate.

multispinous adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪnəs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspaɪnəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspaɪnəs/

/ˌməltəˈspaɪnəs/

[compare scientific Latin multispinosus, specific name (C. de Geer Mém. l'Hist. des Insectes (1773) III. 348)] Zoology rare having many spines.

ΚΠ

1852 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Crustacea Pt. I 538 Carapax multispinous.

1902 Amer. Naturalist 36 933 In every multispinous varix one of the spines predominates over the others.

1943 Amer. Midland Naturalist 30 757 As would be expected in a multispinous structure such as this, there is considerable variation in the number and relative size of the spines.

multispiral adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪrəl/

/ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪrl̩/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspaɪrəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspaɪrəl/

/ˌməltəˈspaɪrəl/

chiefly Biology having many spiral coils or convolutions.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [adjective] > having many (spiral) coils

forwrithen1401

multispiral1839

polygyral1885

polycyclic1890

1839 G. B. Sowerby Conchol. Man. 66 Multispiral, applied to a shell when the spire consists of numerous whorls; or to an operculum of numerous volutions.

1848 G. V. Wood Monogr. Crag Mollusca 113 Operculum corneous, circular, and multispiral.

1899 Fortn. Rev. Jan. 122 Arrangements of multi-spiral springs [etc.].

1958 J. E. Morton Molluscs vii. 143 A multispiral protoconch with a small apex and many whorls denotes a long-swimming larva.

1987 Phytomorphology 37 191 Special water storage cells with multispiral, cellulosic thickenings.

multi-stemmed adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈstɛmd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈstɛmd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɛmd/

/ˌməltəˈstɛmd/

Botany having more than one stem or trunk.

ΚΠ

1952 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 39 31 Often..in multi-stemmed individuals, a dull brown heartwood is found.

1977 J. L. Harper Population Biol. Plants vii. 202 These in turn may branch at or below ground level to give a multi-stemmed plant.

1992 Univ. Oxf. Bot. Garden News Autumn 3 A group of fastigate oaks have been planted sufficiently close together so that they will eventually form a multi-stemmed tree.

multistriate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈstrʌɪeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈstraɪˌeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈstraɪˌeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈstraɪˌeɪt/

rare marked with several or many streaks.

ΚΠ

1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 778/1 Multistriate.

1896 Amer. Naturalist 30 238 Face of upper incisors multistriate.

1995 Brittonia 47 408/2 Young stems subquadrate to multi-striate.

multisulcate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsʌlkeɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsəlˌkeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsəlˌkeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈsəlˌkeɪt/

[compare earlier trisulcate adj., unisulcate adj. at uni- comb. form 1a] Zoology having several or many (parallel) grooves or furrows.

ΚΠ

1857 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Multisulcatus, applied to a shell that is grooved by a multitude of furrows, as the Turritella multisulcata: multisulcate.

1879 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 168 498 Cambala nodulosa... First segment longitudinally multisulcate.

1991 Jrnl. Paleontol. 65 382 A Lower Cambrian calcareous tube-dwelling metazoan(?) known from tri- through multisulcate conchs.

† multisulcated adj. [compare earlier bisulcated adj. at bisulc adj. and n. Derivatives, quadrisulcated adj. at quadri- comb. form 1, trisulcated adj. at trisulcate adj. Derivatives] Obsolete rare = multisulcate adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΚΠ

1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multisulcated, many-furrowed.

multisynaptic adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪsᵻˈnaptɪk/

U.S.

/ˌməltisəˈnæptɪk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪsəˈnæptɪk/

/ˌməltəsəˈnæptɪk/

Physiology having or involving several synapses.

ΚΠ

1950 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 234 529 The multisynaptic pathways efferent to the lateral motor complex.

1962 T. G. Hiebert Abbrev. Basic Med. Physiol. (ed. 4) i. ii. 4 The central synapse may comprise many synapses (multisynaptic reflexes) as a result of internuncial neurons in the pathway of the arc in the CNS.

1987 S. M. Stahl et al. Cognitive Neurochem. vii. 98 The neostriatal complex stands at the headway of a multisynaptic circuit.

multitentacular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪtɛnˈtakjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌtɛnˈtækjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌtɛnˈtækjələr/

/ˌməltəˌtɛnˈtækjələr/

= multitentaculate adj.

ΚΠ

1943 R. Bradbury in Famous Fantastic Mysteries Dec. 123/2 It's conscious, sir; but it's not simple. It's multi-tentacular.

multitentaculate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪtɛnˈtakjᵿlət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌtɛnˈtækjələt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌtɛnˈtækjələt/

/ˌməltəˌtɛnˈtækjələt/

Zoology rare having many tentacles.

ΚΠ

1846 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Zoophytes 698 Polyps multitentaculate.

multiterminal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtəːmᵻnl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtərmənəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtərmənəl/

/ˌməltəˈtərmənəl/

(esp. of a computer system) having more than one terminal.

ΚΠ

1929 Mind 38 533 Terminal systems with one, two, and more than two termini will be distinguished as uniterminal, biterminal and multiterminal respectively.

1976 Design Automation Conf. Proc. 13 427/1 If these multi-terminal nets could be doglegged efficiently, a far more compact routing would be achieved.

1994 H. Weinstein Better Man vii. 67 She..slipped demurely into the seat next to his at the multiterminal computer console.

multitrunked adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtrʌŋkt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtrəŋkt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtrəŋkt/

/ˌməltəˈtrəŋkt/

(of a tree) having more than one trunk.

ΚΠ

1958 Ecol. Monogr. 28 136 The presence of multi-trunked trees and cattle fences in the woods suggest past cutting.

1992 Harrowsmith Aug. 72/3 Often multitrunked, it can easily be trained to a single stem simply by removing the competing trunks on the young tree.

multitubular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtjuːbjᵿlə/

/ˌmʌltɪˈtʃuːbjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈt(j)ubjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈt(j)ubjələr/

/ˌməltəˈt(j)ubjələr/

having many tubes; esp. designating a boiler having many tubes traversing the flame space.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > boiler > [adjective]

low pressure1816

tubular-flued1840

multitubular1849

tubulous1860

Field1865

Stirling1889

double-flued1895

the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > cylinder > [adjective] > of hollow cylindrical form > consisting of or having tubes > having specific number of

trifistulary1646

multifistular1728

multitubular1849

bifistular1870

single-tube1904

1849 Morning Post 16 July 3/4 Mr. Wishaw's system [sc. of electric telegraphing]..places the wires entirely under ground, either in his multitubular pipes if under streets, or in a coating of gutta percha if under railways.

1856 Catal. 8th Exhib. Inventions in Jrnl. Soc. Arts 4 App. I. 3/2 Multi-tubular boilers demand a fuller provision [of coal].

1927 T. Woodhouse Artificial Silk: Manuf. & Uses 15 The multitubular heater receives its heat through steam pipes.

2017 L. Weng & Z. Men in Y. Cheng et al. Multiphase Reactor Engin. vii. 220 The preferred fixed bed reactor type is multitubular with the catalyst placed inside the tubes and cooling medium (water) on the shell sides.

multivoltine adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈvɒltʌɪn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈvɔlˌtaɪn/

/ˌməltiˈvɑlˌtaɪn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɔlˌtaɪn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɑlˌtaɪn/

/ˌməltəˈvɔlˌtaɪn/

/ˌməltəˈvɑlˌtaɪn/

[ < multi- comb. form + -voltine (in univoltine n. and adj.); compare bivoltine adj.] Entomology producing several broods or generations in a year.

ΘΚΠ

the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [adjective] > producing several broods a year (of silkworm)

multivoltine1872

1872 J. Geoghegan Silk in India i. 23 In 1866 experiments were tried..with so-called Japan bivoltine and multivoltine seed.

1883 G. Watt Econ. Products India iii. 66 The multivoltine worms are confined chiefly to Bengal, where they produce three chief crops.

1972 Science 12 May 601/2 Most tropical bees..are long-lived and multivoltine.

1997 Jrnl. Insect Physiol. 43 701 The cabbage butterfly, Pieris melete is multivoltine with a pupal summer and winter diapause.

b. In general use.

multi-armed adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɑːmd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɑrmd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɑrmd/

having more than two arms.

ΚΠ

1949 Jrnl. Hist. Ideas 10 146 Plate XV..shows an eleven-headed multi-armed Kuan-yin or goddess of mercy.

1975 R. Geesin Fallables (BNC) 33 The human is thrown immediately into a multi-armed and legged wrestling match with levers.

1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 204/1 The Milky Way..appears to be a multiarmed spiral.

multi-branched adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈbrɑːn(t)ʃt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈbran(t)ʃt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈbræn(t)ʃt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈbræn(t)ʃt/

/ˌməltəˈbræn(t)ʃt/

having many branches (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1862 Temple Bar 6 266 The lofty and multi-branched genealogical tree.

1915 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 2 660 A multi-branched root system was produced.

1964 Economist 12 Dec. 1251/1 California's multi-branched state university.

1991 P. Main in S. Bowman Sci. & Past ix. 162 The whole should be imagined as a huge and intricate multi-branched tree.

multicausal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkɔːzl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkɔz(ə)l/

/ˌməltiˈkɑz(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔz(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɑz(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈkɔz(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈkɑz(ə)l/

having or involving several causes.

ΚΠ

1935 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 49 607 Multi-causal explanations would seem to offer a more logical interpretation of his own findings.

1998 N.Y. Mag. 19 Oct. 6/3 The decline of big cities is multicausal.

multiconsonantal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪkɒnsəˈnantl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌkɑnsəˈnæn(t)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌkɑnsəˈnæn(t)l/

/ˌməltəˌkɑnsəˈnæn(t)l/

chiefly Linguistics composed of more than one consonant.

ΚΠ

1948 D. Diringer Alphabet ii. 63 They did not employ it [sc. the alphabet] when they could use word-signs or multi-consonantal phonograms.

1976 RAIN No. 15. 5/1 Multi-consonantal signs are frequently..complemented by monoconsonantal signs that record a part of their phonemic value.

multi-denominational adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪdᵻnɒmᵻˈneɪʃn̩(ə)l/

/ˌmʌltɪdᵻnɒmᵻˈneɪʃən(ə)l/

U.S.

/ˌməltidəˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltidiˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪdəˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪdiˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltədəˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/

consisting of or involving more than one denomination.

ΚΠ

1963 Current Anthropol. 4 517/2 The most extraordinary variety of social phenomena: Cargo cults..; the multidenominational multisectanian [sic] aggregates of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam; and so on.

1992 R. MacNeil Burden of Desire iii. 280 The multidenominational funerals service was held in front of the school.

multidirectional adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪdᵻˈrɛkʃn̩(ə)l/

/ˌmʌltɪdᵻˈrɛkʃən(ə)l/

/ˌmʌltɪdʌɪˈrɛkʃn̩(ə)l/

/ˌmʌltɪdʌɪˈrɛkʃən(ə)l/

U.S.

/ˌməltidəˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltiˌdaɪˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪdəˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌdaɪˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltədəˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltəˌdaɪˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/

extending, pointing, or occurring in multiple directions.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > direction > [adjective] > many

multivious1656

multidirectional1897

1897 Amer. Math. Monthly 4 123 (title) Multi-directional geometry.

1942 Illuminating Engin. Nomenclature & Photometric Standards (Illuminating Engin. Soc. U.S.) (ASA Z7.1–1942) 27 Multidirectional illumination on a surface is that produced by several separated light sources of relatively small area. It is characterized by the fact that a small opaque object placed near the illuminated surface casts several shadows.

1964 Discovery Oct. 6/2 Control of a vast and complex multi-directional communications network.

1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 23 Feb. 20/2 Joe Sixpack..replaced his old cable system with a multidirectional antenna.

multifaced adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfeɪst/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfeɪst/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfeɪst/

/ˌməltəˈfeɪst/

having multiple faces or aspects.

ΚΠ

1821 R. Southey Vision of Judgem. v. 20 Caitiffs, are ye dumb? cried the multifaced Demon in anger.

1885 E. Dannreuther in G. Grove Dict. Music IV. 366 This is the central question, the multifaced problem he set himself to solve.

1969 A. Baraka Black Magic 221 The rewards of love are multifaced. They'll change you are changed and worn and real.

1986 C. P. Lo Appl. Remote Sensing i. 15 The characteristic of the line scanner is the multifaced rotating mirror.

multi-figured adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfɪɡəd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfɪɡjərd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfɪɡjərd/

/ˌməltəˈfɪɡjərd/

Art featuring representations of several figures.

ΚΠ

1941 Burlington Mag. Aug. 39/2 Multi-figured, festive scenes were painted, often based on the various sacred writing of Mahayana Buddhism.

1991 Renaissance Q. 44 141 The medium's flexibility enabled the sculptor to experiment with complex, multi-figured compositions.

multiflowered adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈflaʊəd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈflaʊərd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈflaʊərd/

/ˌməltəˈflaʊərd/

bearing many flowers.

ΚΠ

1938 New Phytologist 37 120 (caption) A few types of multiflowered P.F. spikelets in L. aurea.

1985 Ecology 66 179 The response of queen bumble bees..to variations in the distribution and abundance of nectar in multiflowered Delphinium nelsonii inflorescences.

1993 B. Cox Coll. Poems 31 Blue pyjamas confront her multi-flowered bath-robe.

multifurcate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfəːkeɪt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈfəːkət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfərˌkeɪt/

/ˌməltiˈfərkət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfərˌkeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfərkət/

/ˌməltəˈfərˌkeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈfərkət/

forked or branched in multiple directions; also figurative.

ΚΠ

1817 J. Bentham Chrestomathia Pt. II 221 Why bifurcate rather than multifurcate?

1863 Philos. Trans. 1862 (Royal Soc.) 152 834 Spinulo-multifurcate hexradiate stellate (Plate XXXVI. fig. 41).

1944 Amer. Midland Naturalist 31 560 Specimens differing..in greater tube diameter and multifurcate rather than dichotomous branching.

1981 New Phytologist 88 387 Dominant among the megaspores from Taff Gorge, are those with multifurcate and bifurcate tipped processes.

1992 E. George For Sake of Elena xxi. 414 Anger, hatred, bitterness, envy. And a terror of abjuring any of them in order to allow her heart to begin to feel the full strength of what had to be a multifurcate grief.

multigeminal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdʒɛmᵻnl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdʒɛmən(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdʒɛmən(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈdʒɛmən(ə)l/

designating a multiple birth.Apparently an isolated use.

ΚΠ

1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 391 Recorded instances of multigeminal..births.

multigenerational adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪdʒɛnəˈreɪʃn̩(ə)l/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltəˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəl/

composed of or containing members of several generations; relating to several generations (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1965 Population Stud. 18 339/1 A household headed by an unmarried mother can become ‘multi-generational’ if a daughter, in turn, becomes an unmarried mother.

1972 P. Laslett Househ. & Family in Past Time 7 A high proportion of multigenerational extended families among the remaining Dutch peasantry in the 1950s.

1987 Wilson Libr. Bull. Mar. 33/3 To make your job as system administrator easier, require that frequent multi-generational backups are made.

1996 United Church Observer Jan. 56/1 The charge involves both urban and rural concerns along with an active multi-generational congregation.

multihued adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈhjuːd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈhjud/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈhjud/

/ˌməltəˈhjud/

of many hues or colours.

ΚΠ

1806 T. G. Fessenden Orig. Poems (new ed.) 17 The flame cinctur'd, multihu'd arch in the sky.

1894 Catholic World July 484 The drive is glowing with color, the multihued zarapes of the men and rebozos of the women flitting in and out of the palms.

1927 Daily Express 13 July 5/2 The hidden wiring of the multi-hued electric lights.

1994 N. Baker Fermata xiii. 188 She was a woman of twenty or so with lots of thickly wavy multihued fair hair.

multijointed adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdʒɔɪntᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdʒɔɪn(t)ᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdʒɔɪn(t)ᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈdʒɔɪn(t)ᵻd/

having more than one joint.

ΚΠ

1974 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 275 555 Joint creep phenomena..become particularly important in multi-jointed assemblies.

1980 Brain, Behavior & Evol. 17 291 The long multijointed digits in the lizard.

1992 Byte Dec. 232/1 Servo motors, attached to multijointed flexible wooden arms.

multimarbled adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmɑːbld/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmɑrb(ə)ld/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɑrb(ə)ld/

/ˌməltəˈmɑrb(ə)ld/

poetic rare containing many different kinds of marble.

ΚΠ

1901 T. Hardy Poems Past & Present 40 Multimarbled Genova the Proud.

† multimonstrous adj. Obsolete rare consisting of many monstrosities.

ΚΠ

1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 21 Such a multimonstrous maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets.

multi-orgasmic adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪɔːˈɡazmɪk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌɔrˈɡæzmɪk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌɔrˈɡæzmɪk/

/ˌməltəˌɔrˈɡæzmɪk/

(capable of) having more than one orgasm during an act of sexual intercourse.

ΚΠ

1968 R. Kyle Love Lab. (1969) vi. 80 She was frequently multiorgasmic.

1973 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 78 1047 One often finds in the textbooks that the male sets the pace in marital coitus, but nowhere is it mentioned that women are multiorgasmic.

1998 K. Lette Altar Ego xxxvii. 314 Simon told her that he'd discovered a new multi-orgasmic erogenous zone between the G-spot and the cervix.

multipeaked adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpiːkt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpikt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpikt/

/ˌməltəˈpikt/

(designating or relating to graphs and phenomena represented in graphic form) having many peaks.

ΚΠ

1958 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. B. 20 177 Multi-peaked service-time distributions are not excluded from our consideration.

1968 V. B. Mountcastle et al. Med. Physiol. (ed. 12) II. lxiv. 1488/2 The multipeaked pattern was observed for units with characteristic frequencies up to about 5,000 cps.

1992 Sci. Amer. May 24/1 Highly assortive mixing can generate a multipeaked epidemic as the infection spreads from the higher- to the lower-risk groups.

1997 Jrnl. Appl. Physics 81 4048 The square cut samples give rise to multipeaked spectra when the external magnetic field is applied in an ‘off-square’ direction.

multipersonal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpəːsn̩(ə)l/

/ˌmʌltɪˈpəːsən(ə)l/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpərs(ə)nəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərs(ə)nəl/

/ˌməltəˈpərs(ə)nəl/

consisting of or involving more than one person; (spec. in Theology) consisting of the three Persons of the Trinity.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [adjective] > many-sided or having parts > comprising several personalities

multipersonal1827

1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid. III. vi. iii. 438 For species..of multimedial evidence, we have simple, (composed either of multi-personal alone..or of transcriptural alone), and complex.

1899 C. F. d'Arcy Idealism & Theol. iv. 153 Christianity teaches us to think of God as multipersonal unity.

1935 Theology 30 77 This argument for a multipersonal Deity.

1993 H. Gardner Creating Minds ii. 37 I adopt Csikszentmihalyi's term ‘field’ to describe this congeries of forces, the study of which is fundamentally sociological. Such a multipersonal perspective [etc.].

multipointed adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɔɪntᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɔɪn(t)ᵻd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɔɪn(t)ᵻd/

/ˌməltəˈpɔɪn(t)ᵻd/

having multiple points.

ΚΠ

1902 R. W. Chambers Maids of Paradise vi. 104 He was engaged in constructing a multi-pointed paper star.

1989 Systematic Parasitol. 13 125 The tegumental spines became multi-pointed almost immediately after the definitive host was infected.

multipronged adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈprɒŋd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈprɔŋd/

/ˌməltiˈprɑŋd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɔŋd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɑŋd/

/ˌməltəˈprɔŋd/

/ˌməltəˈprɑŋd/

having several prongs; (usually figurative, of an attempt, attack, etc.) taking place on several different fronts at once.

ΚΠ

1953 Polit. Sci. Q. 68 384 A multi-pronged attack on the food problem is now under way.

1989 I. Frazier Great Plains v. 81 Professor Marsh..identified the odd, multi-pronged object..as the tail weapon of a stegosaurus.

1995 J. E. Rohde & H. Viswanathan Rural Private Practitioner viii. 146 He provides what the customer wants—quick attention..and a multipronged, (probably hit-and-miss) attempt at cure.

multiramified adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈramᵻfʌɪd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈræməˌfaɪd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈræməˌfaɪd/

/ˌməltəˈræməˌfaɪd/

having many branches or divisions.

ΚΠ

1816 T. L. Peacock Headlong Hall i. 3 Any of the last-named multiramified families.

1870 G. Rolleston Forms Animal Life p. lxxxvi [In other Mollusca] a multi-ramified water-vascular system appears to spread itself throughout the body, without becoming directly continuous with the blood-vessels.

multireligious adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪrᵻˈlɪdʒəs/

U.S.

/ˌməltirəˈlɪdʒəs/

/ˌməltiriˈlɪdʒəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪrəˈlɪdʒəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪriˈlɪdʒəs/

/ˌməltərəˈlɪdʒəs/

belonging or devoted to more than one religion; designating a society, etc., in which more than one religion is significantly represented.

ΚΠ

1959 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 53 1258 (advt.) India's multiracial, multireligious, multilingual society cannot but be regarded as evolving new patterns of democracy.

1998 Industry Standard 10 Aug. 36/1 He has a multireligious shrine, the centerpiece of which is a huge photograph of a Buddha statue located in San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden.

multisectoral adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛkt(ə)rəl/

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛkt(ə)rl̩/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɛktərəl/

/ˌməltiˌsɛkˈtɔrəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛktərəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌsɛkˈtɔrəl/

/ˌməltəˈsɛktərəl/

/ˌməltəˌsɛkˈtɔrəl/

concerning or involving more than one sector of an industry, economy, etc.

ΚΠ

1953 Amer. Econ. Rev. 43 766 Theses in Preparation... An examination of the inflationary process and alternative public policies within the framework of multi-sectoral models.

1991 Community Devel. Jrnl. 26 338 The principal aim of these multisectoral programmes is to make a breakthrough in health development within the context of economic development.

multisecular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛkjᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɛkjələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛkjələr/

/ˌməltəˈsɛkjələr/

that has existed for many ages; recurring in, or involving many ages.

ΚΠ

1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvii. [Ithaca] 624 The multisecular stability of its primeval basin.

1971 Jrnl. Econ. Hist. 31 169 A subcontinent that..seems to have gone through the same multisecular trends.

1998 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 70 698 A multisecular reconceptualization of the kingship took place [in France] from the late medieval period to the eighteenth century.

multisensory adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛns(ə)ri/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɛnsəri/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛnsəri/

/ˌməltəˈsɛnsəri/

involving or using more than one of the five senses.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [adjective] > of or relating to the senses > two or more

bisensory1894

trisensory1894

multisensory1912

intersensory1933

intersensorial1935

multisensual1967

1912 Philos. Rev. 21 715 He [sc. W. Wundt] drops the Herbartian term ‘complication’ for multi-sensory perceptions.

1946 Amer. Jrnl. Mental Deficiency 51 207 Multi-sensory materials, some of which the child has helped make, act as a catalytic agent in accelerating readiness.

1995 Times Educ. Suppl. 10 Feb. 61/1 (advt.) As the Literacy Support Teacher your main duty will be to maintain, enhance and extend the good practice of teaching pupils with difficulties in reading, writing and spelling using a multisensory..approach.

multi-spired adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪəd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspaɪ(ə)rd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspaɪ(ə)rd/

/ˌməltəˈspaɪ(ə)rd/

having or characterized by several or many spires.

ΚΠ

1884 Punch 20 Sept. 141 Vast, multi-spired, thick-roof'd..is London.

1992 Holiday Which? Sept. 177 Further south is a multi-spired Carolingian church.

multitalented adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtaləntᵻd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtælən(t)əd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtælən(t)əd/

/ˌməltəˈtælən(t)əd/

having many skills or talents.

ΚΠ

1963 A. Kramish Peaceful Atom iii. xiv. 252 The development of this multitalented individual should begin approximately at the senior level of the university.

1976 Offshore Platforms & Pipelining 188/2 A multitalented crew of either technicians or maintenance personnel visit platforms in the system.

2000 Times 20 Oct. 37/2 He was a multitalented star, loved the world over.

multi-taped adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈteɪpt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈteɪpt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈteɪpt/

/ˌməltəˈteɪpt/

recorded from several magnetic tapes played simultaneously.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > [adjective] > recorded by specific system

taped1892

phonographed1897

acoustic1926

acoustical1926

stereophonic1927

monaural1931

multitracked1931

binaural1933

multitrack1935

tape-recorded1951

telediphoned1952

stereo1954

multi-taped1955

monophonic1958

pretaped1958

mono1960

audiotaped1962

multichannel1962

quarter-track1962

Dolby1966

quadraphonic1968

tetraphonic1969

periphonic1970

quad1970

quadrasonic1970

Dolbyized1971

QS1972

Dolbyed1973

premix1977

quadro1977

1955 L. Feather Encycl. Jazz vii. 245 The unique tonal effects obtained from these multi-taped, multi-speed novelties sold many millions of Capitol records.

1962 John o' London's 16 Aug. 162/4 Not all the tracks are multi-taped.

multi-timbral adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtambrəl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtæmbrəl/

/ˌməltiˈtɪmbrəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtæmbrəl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtɪmbrəl/

/ˌməltəˈtæmbrəl/

/ˌməltəˈtɪmbrəl/

having many timbres or sounds; spec. designating an electronic musical instrument, etc., capable of producing a number of different sounds simultaneously, polyphonic.

ΚΠ

1985 Washington Post (Nexis) 20 Dec. 17 Using digital sequencers to store and play back performances, he creates a multi-timbral ensemble that is bright and sassy.

1986 Keyboard Player Apr. 21/3 The Casio CZ series are multi-timbral and..can play four different monophonic voices at once.

1999 Canad. Musician (Electronic ed.) Apr. Through the years, instruments have become multi-timbral, which means the instrument can respond to more than one MIDI channel at a time, each having a different allocated sound patch.

multititular adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtɪtjᵿlə/

/ˌmʌltɪˈtɪtʃᵿlə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtɪtʃələr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtɪtʃələr/

/ˌməltəˈtɪtʃələr/

rare having many titles.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΚΠ

1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Multi-titular.

multitribal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtrʌɪbl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtraɪb(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtraɪb(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈtraɪb(ə)l/

of, relating to, or belonging to more than one tribe.

ΚΠ

1944 Man 44 16/2 The continent of Africa with peoples of a hundred sorts grouped into thousands of communities grading from wild tribes to multi-tribal states.

1982 Amer. Speech 57 108 The consensus is that their ancestors were part of the groups of Indians who coalesced into small multitribal communities.

1992 Lakota Times (Rapid City, S. Dakota) 5 Aug. b8/1 Multi-tribal students with one-quarter Indian blood.

2. Prefixed to a noun, either with the adjectival sense ‘multiple, manifold’, or with the adverbial sense ‘in many ways or directions’.

multibus n.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪbʌs/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌbəs/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌbəs/

/ˈməltəˌbəs/

Computing a bus architecture that can be used by a number of independent processors and peripheral devices working at different speeds (a proprietary name in the United Kingdom).

ΚΠ

1977 IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 24 469/1 A shared random-access memory resource is described which is used within real-time data acquisition and control systems with multiprocessor and multibus organizations.

1981 Computer Design Sept. 183/1 Making Ethernet compatible with the Multibus seemed to be the key to broadening the base of local area networking.

1996 Control & Instrumentation 28 62/2 The mainstream of industrial applications has continued to be served by specialist hardware or by custom-built systems based on the VME or Multibus standards.

multicollinearity n.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪkəlɪnɪˈarᵻti/

U.S.

/ˌməltikəˌlɪniˈɛrədi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪkəˌlɪniˈɛrədi/

/ˌməltəkəˌlɪniˈɛrədi/

Statistics the existence of a perfect or nearly perfect linear correlation between a set of variables when the regression of some dependent variable on them is being investigated; an instance of this.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > probability or statistics > [noun] > variable > relationship between sets of variables

correlation1888

regression1895

intercorrelation1901

covariation1925

multicollinearity1934

1934 R. Frisch Statist. Confluence Anal. xi. 75 There exist two or more independent linear relations between the systematic parts of these variates, but..we are not aware of this multicollinearity.

1972 T. H. Wonnacott & R. J. Wonnacott Introd. Statistics for Business & Econ. xiii. 296 Suppose demand for a group of goods is being related to prices and income, with the overall price index being the first independent variable. Suppose aggregate income measured in money terms is the second independent variable. If this is real income multiplied by the same price index, the problem of multicollinearity may become a serious one.

1987 Amer. Econ. Rev. 77 754/2 Both formulations contain strong multicollinearities between time patterns, cumulative integrations, lagged variables, and the intercept.

2000 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 105 1743 Where there is measurement error,..multicollinearity may aggravate any bias in coefficients resulting from measurement error.

† multifoetation n. Medicine Obsolete rare pregnancy with more than one fetus or more than two fetuses.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.

ΚΠ

1853 R. Dunglison Med. Lexicon (ed. 9) Multifœtation, pregnancy with more than two fœtuses.

1891 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon Multifoetation, pregnancy with more than one foetus; or, according to some, with more than two foetuses.

multi-starrer n.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈstɑːrə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈstɑrər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɑrər/

/ˌməltəˈstɑrər/

[ < multi- comb. form + starrer n. (see sense 3 at that entry)] Indian English a film having an ensemble cast featuring many star performers.

ΚΠ

1976 Times of India 25 Jan. 2/6 (advt.) The Mighty Multi Starrer..Nagin.

1996 B. D. Garga So many Cinemas x. 181 The mainstream cinema was now the playground of the high stake players whose multi-starrer budgets ranged between Rs 150–200 million.

2013 Eastern Eye 19 July 30/2 [Waqt (1965)] was an influential movie that popularised the lost-and-found formula and the multi-starrer.

multi-tester n.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪˌtɛstə/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌtɛstər/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌtɛstər/

/ˈməltəˌtɛstər/

an instrument for carrying out a number of tests; (spec.) a multimeter esp. a small portable one.

ΚΠ

1937 Jrnl. Exper. Psychol. 20 302 The Multitester is a portable device for controlling the presentation of any series of twenty paired stimuli... By means of two response keys..the subject attempts to select the ‘correct’ one in each of the series.

1957 Pract. Wireless Nov. 657/1 (advt.) You build a..signal generator and multi-tester.

1992 Family Handyman Jan. 75/1 With your multi-tester set to the Rx1 scale, connect the test probes to the switch terminals.

† multitheism n. Obsolete rare polytheism.

ΘΚΠ

society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > [noun] > polytheism

polytheism1613

polydaemonism1699

multitheism1719

1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 345 For..Idolatry, and Multi-theism no People in the World ever went beyond them.

3. Prefixed to a noun forming a compound used attributively with the force of a parasynthetic adjective (occasionally used predicatively, as in quot. 1778 for multifurrow adj. and quot. 1970 for multifont adj. at sense 3b).

multi-agency adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈeɪdʒənsi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈeɪdʒənsi/

ΚΠ

1956 Internat. Organization 10 250 The limitations imposed by the multi-agency context of foreign aid.

1992 Police Chief Feb. 6/1 The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.., a network of regionally based, multiagency task forces.

multi-campus adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkampəs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkæmpəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæmpəs/

/ˌməltəˈkæmpəs/

ΚΠ

1965 Science 4 June 1278 The university's great position in higher education is attained in a large measure through its multi-campus concept.

1990 Amsterdam News (N.Y.) 24 Mar. 43/3 (advt.) The State University of New York has 29 geographically dispersed State-operated campuses, and is the largest and most diverse multi-campus university in the nation with over 40,000 employees and 186,000 students.

multi-clan adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈklan/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈklæn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈklæn/

/ˌməltəˈklæn/

ΚΠ

1971 Man 6 412 The multi-clan community as a whole would be the political and warring unit—not the individual clans.

1990 Harvard Jrnl. Asiatic Stud. 50 113 An extreme case of a multi-clan village.

multi-deck adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdɛk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdɛk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɛk/

/ˌməltəˈdɛk/

ΚΠ

1955 Times 9 May 18/2 Multi-deck car parks with direct access to the stores.

1998 Indianapolis Star 22 Feb. k8/4 This day-long package on a multideck boat is the most expensive.

multi-floor adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈflɔː/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈflɔr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈflɔr/

/ˌməltəˈflɔr/

ΚΠ

1938 Archit. Rev. 83 118/2 A multifloor scheme was devised which, besides allowing high economy of site area, gave other advantages of even greater moment.

1991 R. Sale Milan 127 The Romanesque lines of the church are masked..by the adjacent multi-floor modern buildings.

multi-groove adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡruːv/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɡruv/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡruv/

/ˌməltəˈɡruv/

ΚΠ

1864 Daily Tel. 11 Apr. 3/2 The multigroove rifling.

multi-link adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈlɪŋk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈlɪŋk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɪŋk/

/ˌməltəˈlɪŋk/

ΚΠ

1964 Jrnl. Soc. Industr. & Appl. Math. 12 458 The probability of error for a binary multilink signaling communication system.

1996 Observer 31 Mar. 2/2 (advt.) Our independent multilink suspension..is unusual in having five struts.

multi-page adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpeɪdʒ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpeɪdʒ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpeɪdʒ/

/ˌməltəˈpeɪdʒ/

ΚΠ

1948 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 43 463 Reporting forms varied in length..from a multipage form..to a simple registration statement requesting only a name and address.

1995 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 3 July 30 Other sections include a look at setting up multi-page spreadsheets, graphs, formatting and printing.

multi-speed adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspiːd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspid/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspid/

/ˌməltəˈspid/

ΚΠ

1884 Cyclist 13 Feb. 252/1 A new multispeed gearing.

1926 Science 22 Jan. 90/2 Multi-speed cascade induction motors.

1955 L. Feather Encycl. Jazz vii. 245 The unique tonal effects obtained from these multi-taped, multi-speed novelties sold many millions of Capitol records.

1992 Independent 29 Oct. 26/6 The Maastricht treaty already implies a multi-speed Europe in its progress towards a single currency.

multi-tube adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtjuːb/

/ˌmʌltɪˈtʃuːb/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈt(j)ub/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈt(j)ub/

/ˌməltəˈt(j)ub/

ΚΠ

1920 U.S. Patent 1,342,885 1/1 Various forms of multi-tube vacuum tube amplifiers have been developed.

1924 Chester (Pa.) Times 8 Nov. 11/4 The radio fan with the inexpensive crystal set must be given as much consideration as the multi-tube receiver owner.

1935 Discovery Feb. 43/2 The multi-tube parachute rocket used for the Harz Mountain experiments.

1959 Times 23 Sept. 4 (advt.) The Oldham Pg battery is unique in possessing a patented double-sleeve multi-tube positive plate.

1989 Hydrocarbon Processing Nov. 113/1 The Ballestra multitube film reactor gives top-quality sulfonated products.

multi-unit adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈjuːnɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈjunət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈjunət/

/ˌməltəˈjunət/

ΚΠ

1933 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 28 79 Multiunit plants as a group unquestionably maintained operations on a relatively higher level than did independents.

1978 N.Y. Times 30 Mar. b6/2 (advt.) Calls outside the Primary Area, but within your local calling area, are referred to as Extended Area (or multi-unit) calls.

1995 Bond Buyer (Nexis) 31 July 12 California Housing Finance Agency, multi-unit rental.

multi-vane adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈveɪn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈveɪn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈveɪn/

/ˌməltəˈveɪn/

ΚΠ

1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Multivane.

1963 R. R. A. Higham Handbk. Papermaking ii. 25 Situated in the trough [of the hydrapulper] is a multivane rotor, driven by a vertical shaft.

multi-activity adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪakˈtɪvᵻti/

/ˌmʌltɪəkˈtɪvᵻti/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌækˈtɪvᵻdi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌækˈtɪvᵻdi/

involved or engaged in several activities; spec. offering, equipped for, or involving a variety of sporting or leisure activities.

ΚΠ

1943 Jrnl. Educ. Sociol. 16 477 Some [consumers'] cooperatives are criticized because their members are able to meet a variety of needs within a well-organized and multi-activity association.

1982 Economist 25 Dec. Survey 13/3 He wants to provide not just room and board for the few but a multi-activity centre for all of Paris.

2000 Daily Tel. 16 Mar. (Connected section) 13/2 ‘Multi-activity’ type software offers children a collection of activities which support different areas of learning.

multi-album adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈalbəm/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈælbəm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈælbəm/

(of a recording contract) for or involving the recording of several albums.

ΚΠ

1977 Rolling Stone 19 May 23/4 In late 1976, Jeffreys and his new manager, Carole Langer, made a multialbum deal with A & M.

2000 Atlanta Constit. (Electronic ed.) 30 June Arista recording artist Carlos Santana is staying put. The guitarist has signed a long-term, multi-album contract.

multiaperture adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈapətʃə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈæpərˌtʃʊ(ə)r/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈæpərˌtʃʊ(ə)r/

having or using several or many apertures.

ΚΠ

1959 Proc. IRE 47 63/2 By making use of geometrical variations of the basic toroidal core shape, multiaperture or multipath logic devices can be designed.

1968 New Scientist 15 Feb. 360/2 The elements, called MADs (multiaperture devices), are specially shaped ferrite discs..which act as very fast switches.

1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 655/2 The advantage of multiaperture spectroscopy over fibre spectroscopy is only realized in the faintest objects.

multi-axis adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈaksɪs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈæksəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈæksəs/

relating to, capable of, or designating movement about more than one axis.

ΚΠ

1962 F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics xiii. 554 (caption) Multiaxis spin test inertial facility.

1992 Professional Engin. Nov. 51/2 The package combines full multi-axis milling and turning operations.

1998 Automotive Engineer Mar. 14/3 A multi-axis arm has been developed..for anthropomorphic dummies.

multibeam adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪbiːm/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌbim/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌbim/

/ˈməltəˌbim/

involving several or many beams of light or other radiation; (spec. in Photography) designating or relating to an autofocus facility which uses more than three light beams to estimate distance.

ΚΠ

1952 Jrnl. Optical Soc. Amer. 42 931 (title) A multibeam ophthalmoscope for the study of retinal physiology.

1988 Camera Weekly 19 Mar. 38/1 Autofocus is a common feature on compact cameras today, and systems have evolved from simple infrared reflection measuring devices with two or three simple focusing zones to complex multi beam systems.

1997 Sci. Amer. June 70/1 All the vessels involved used multibeam sonars, the most modern form of instrumentation available for measuring the topography of the ocean bottom.

multibed adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈbɛd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈbɛd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈbɛd/

/ˌməltəˈbɛd/

containing several or many beds (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1964 G. L. Cohen What's Wrong with Hospitals? i. 24 To the archetypal American patient of the medical magazines, there is no disgrace in entering a ‘multi-bed ward’.

1985 Science 20 Dec. 1331 (caption) Multibed design.., with a lower bed of inert solid operating at a higher temperature than an upper bed of CaO/CaSO₄.

multibody adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈbɒdi/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈbɑdi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈbɑdi/

/ˌməltəˈbɑdi/

consisting of or involving more than one body; (spec. in Physics and Astronomy) involving interaction between three or more bodies (cf. many-body adj. at many adj., pron., n., and adv. Compounds 2).

ΚΠ

1937 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 162 544 It is possible to interpret the effect as involving resonance with a two- or multi-body system instead of just a one-body effect.

1967 Royal Aircraft Establishm. Techn. Rep. No. 67009. 1 Conditions are derived for the nutational stability..for multi-body vehicles [sc. satellites].

1988 Dynamics & Stability of Syst. 3 26 Many of the results for the two and three bodies generalize to multibody structures and other modifications.

1993 Sci. Fiction Age Jan. 40/1 The being that finally appeared on the viewscreen was a multibody intelligence such as was rarely encountered in League space.

multicandidate adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkandᵻdeɪt/

/ˌmʌltɪˈkandᵻdət/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/

/ˌməltəˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/

designating or relating to an election contested by more than two candidates; (also) designating an election for a post previously appointed or uncontested.

ΚΠ

1959 Midwest Jrnl. Polit. Sci. 3 180 Multi-candidate contests are not limited to the three-cornered race.

1988 Oxf. Today 1 45/3 The reforms include the introduction of competitive, multicandidate (albeit still circumscribed) elections for deputies of soviets, members of party committees and party secretaries.

2000 National Jrnl. (Electronic ed.) 18 Nov. Under a popular-vote system, McCain could run, hoping that in a multicandidate field he might squeak into a runoff.

multi-car adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪkɑː/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌkɑr/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌkɑr/

/ˈməltəˌkɑr/

owning several cars; involving several or many cars.

ΚΠ

1962 Economist 11 Aug. 526/1 The proportion of multi-car families is continuing to rise.

1976 J. Wainwright Bastard vii. 91 Mist..happens on motorways, and is the cause of multi-car shunt-ups.

1994 Face Jan. 125/2 That multi-car pile-up is not cartoon fun sparked by a cute survivalist moppet, but murderous evil orchestrated by the spawn of Satan.

multichain adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪtʃeɪn/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌtʃeɪn/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌtʃeɪn/

/ˈməltəˌtʃeɪn/

consisting of or involving multiple chains; (spec. in Chemistry) designating a linear polymer consisting of multiple chains with little network structure, esp. a protein in which two or more peptide chians are joined by non-peptide links.

ΚΠ

1948 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 70 2710/1 These ‘multichain’ polymer molecules are therefore composed of ḇ chains of average length ȳ units each, radiating from the central radical R.

1967 Immunochemistry 4 180 The multi-chain polymer was a very efficient tolerogen.

1992 Jrnl. Industr. Econ. 40 202 Malls will be more similar in certain store types dominated by multichain firms than in store types that are not.

1997 Jrnl. Bacteriol. 179 3154 This activity..presented a multichain pattern of attack of the glucan chains.

multi-chip adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtʃɪp/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtʃɪp/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtʃɪp/

/ˌməltəˈtʃɪp/

Electronics consisting of or using more than one semiconductor chip.

ΚΠ

1964 Microelectronics & Reliability 3 84/2 Multi-chip circuits are partially integrated circuits where sections of the entire element are made separately and interconnected by thin leads.

1992 New Scientist 29 Feb. 26/1 In future, several chips may be packaged together on one carrier called a multichip module.

multi-choice adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈtʃɔɪs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈtʃɔɪs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈtʃɔɪs/

/ˌməltəˈtʃɔɪs/

that presents or allows a choice among several options; spec. = multiple-choice adj.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > examination > [adjective] > type of examination

multiple-choice1914

pass-fail1930

multi-choice1950

open book1951

take-home1956

mock1960

the mind > mental capacity > psychology > developmental psychology > acquisition of knowledge > test of mental ability > [adjective] > involving words

word association1910

multiple-choice1914

true–false1923

multi-choice1950

cloze1953

1950 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 45 265 A descriptive measure of the distribution of responses in multi-choice situations is defined as a function of the probabilities of the various choices.

1972 Jrnl. Social Psychol. 86 14 The multichoice stimulus display apparatus..afforded observation of five critical Ss simultaneously.

1987 Economist 19 Sept. 40/2 The NEA opposes the rather humiliating multi-choice tests that two states, Texas and Arkansas, have forced on established teachers.

2000 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) (Electronic ed.) 15 Aug. The excerpt from the NCEA equivalent is predominantly algebra and considerably more difficult..than simply multichoice addition and subtraction.

multichord adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪkɔːd/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌkɔrd/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌkɔrd/

/ˈməltəˌkɔrd/

rare (a) having many strings; (b) involving many chords of a circle.

ΚΠ

a1894 C. Rossetti Divers Worlds (‘The Earth shall tremble’) The multichord Thrilled harp of heaven.

1980 Science 21 Mar. 1303/1 A comparison of power emanation profiles, obtained by Abel inversion of multichord scans with a bolometer, showed central peaking of the emitted power.

multicircuit adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsəːkɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsərkət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsərkət/

/ˌməltəˈsərkət/

supplying or containing several or many electric circuits.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > [adjective] > containing many circuits

multicircuit1909

1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Multicircuit, having a multiple circuit..Multicircuit generator, an electric generator, as for the supplying of arc-lights, which is connected with and feeds several parallel circuits.

1969 Jane's Freight Containers 1968–9 536/2 An a.c. drive motor with single and multi-circuit generators built as one unit.

1970 Sci. Amer. Feb. 28/2 A multicircuit chip would have to incorporate logic gates of several different types and all would have to function perfectly.

1996 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 354 863 In the second [scenario] implosions destroy all but one of the countable set of multi-circuit connections in W^u(Γ) ∩ W^s(Γ).

multi-city adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɪti/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪdi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪdi/

/ˌməltəˈsɪdi/

containing or relating to more than one city.

ΚΠ

1965 Jrnl. Negro Educ. 34 90 Each community (including, but not limited to, a state, metropolitan area, county, city, town, multi-city unit or multi-county unit) would be encouraged to plan a community program.

1993 Orlando Sentinel 24 May (Mag.) 14/3 Ramsberger..helps find sites for movie and television shoots. She doubles as a one-stop permitting shop for the movie business, eliminating cross-county or multicity jurisdictional problems.

multi-class adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈklɑːs/

/ˌmʌltɪˈklas/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈklæs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈklæs/

/ˌməltəˈklæs/

having or involving representatives of several classes, esp. social classes.

ΚΠ

1931 Amer. Econ. Rev. 21 459 Geneticists say that this curve is rendered probable.., though possibly it might be a multi-class Poissons series.

1961 Guardian 16 June 6/5 The rise of the anonymous, multi-class mass audience.

1988 T. Cubitt Latin Amer. Soc. (BNC) 179 Popular protest movements..are usually multi-class in membership.

multi-coil adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkɔɪl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkɔɪl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔɪl/

/ˌməltəˈkɔɪl/

(of an instrument or technique) employing or involving more than one or more than two coils.

ΚΠ

1877 Elem. Lect. Electricity 19 Multi-coil Galvanometer. This is a galvanometer with three distinct coils of wire.

1965 Science 23 July 464/1 (advt.) A compressor-type refrigeration system that works through an efficient multi-coil cooling head.

1981 Geophysics 46 1579 (title) Magnetite mapping with a muticoil airborne electromagnetic system.

multi-column adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkɒləm/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkɑləm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɑləm/

/ˌməltəˈkɑləm/

having or involving multiple columns (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1942 A. L. Warren Perceptibility of Lower Case & All Capitals Newspaper Headlines (M.A. thesis, Univ. of Minnesota) Introd. Today the eye is met by a medley of type sizes, arranged in groups of single-column and multi-column hierarchies and dominated by the striking banner headline which carries the main news.

1956 Nature 17 Mar. 509/2 The two- or multi-column process requires flow through a cation and then an ion exchanger.

1990 Washington Journalism Rev. May 48/3 After the sensational wartime typography subsided, multicolumn headlines with many decks remained, and the basic look of American newspapers was set for the next 50 years.

multiconductor adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪkənˈdʌktə/

U.S.

/ˌməltikənˈdəktər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪkənˈdəktər/

/ˌməltəkənˈdəktər/

consisting of or involving more than two electrical conductors.

ΚΠ

1931 Trans. Amer. Inst. Electr. Engineers 50 532/1 The theory of traveling waves on multi-conductor systems.

1949 E. W. Kimbark Electr. Transmission Power & Signals iv. 60 The use of sector-shaped conductors in multiconductor cables.

1992 RS Components: Electronic & Electr. Products July 40/1 Multiconductor with Foil Screen Type 2... A range of multi-conductor and drain wire cables with an overall foil screen.

multi-country adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌntri/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkəntri/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəntri/

/ˌməltəˈkəntri/

involving, including, or encompassing several countries; international.

ΚΠ

1950 Econometrica 18 70 A multicountry model which would give a satisfactory explanation of the international transmission of fluctuations in economic activity.

1994 P. Hobbs & M. Algar Free to Travel xiii. 77 A tremendous advantage of multi-country passes is that you pay only once, in Canadian currency.

multi-county adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkaʊnti/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkaʊn(t)i/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkaʊn(t)i/

/ˌməltəˈkaʊn(t)i/

involving, including, or encompassing more than one county.

ΚΠ

1938 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 32 315 There is no correlation between turnover and either one-county or multi-county districts.

1960 Daily Tel. 27 Oct. 15/1 A breaking down of engineering units for multi-county motorway construction.

1999 West Briton (Electronic ed.) 25 May Mebyon Kernow..felt Cornwall would not be given a fair chance in a large multi-county constituency.

multi-course adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkɔːs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkɔrs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔrs/

/ˌməltəˈkɔrs/

(of a meal) comprising several courses.

ΚΠ

1903 Public Opinion 8 Oct. 471/1 The multi-course dinner.

1994 Canad. Geographic July 58/2 We sit down to our Sabbath dinner, an elaborate multi-course affair that begins with sanctification.

multicrore adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkrɔː/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkrɔr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkrɔr/

/ˌməltəˈkrɔr/

South Asian that makes or is worth more than one crore of rupees; see crore n.

ΚΠ

1952 Indian Farming June 18/1 (heading) A multi-crore asset.

1983 J. Rizvi Ladakh 10 The multi-crore shawl industry of Srinigar.

2000 Business India (Electronic ed.) 25 June (heading) Yet another multicrore NBFC scam with political links surfaces.

multi-currency adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌrənsi/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkərənsi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkərənsi/

/ˌməltəˈkərənsi/

relating to, dealing with, or usable with the currency of several countries.

ΚΠ

1965 Jrnl. Finance 20 162 Proponents of a multi-currency reserve system take an intermediate position.

1992 High Life (Brit. Airways) Nov. 18/1 (advt.) Access to your funds could not be simpler. Your cheque book can be sterling, USS or multi-currency, thus meeting your payment requirements wherever you may live.

multi-day adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdeɪ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdeɪ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdeɪ/

/ˌməltəˈdeɪ/

lasting or staying for several days; applicable to or valid for a period of several days.

ΚΠ

1966 Science 13 May 881/3 Entire multi-day conferences have been devoted to the subject.

1973 C. Bonington Next Horizon v. 85 He was not interested in the multi-day epic, or the highly technical rock-climb.

1991 N.Y. Times 24 Nov. v. 3/2 Vail's nonholiday multiday ticket is $259 for seven days.

multi-daylight adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdeɪlʌɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdeɪˌlaɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdeɪˌlaɪt/

/ˌməltəˈdeɪˌlaɪt/

(of a hydraulic press) having three or more platens (and so more than one gap, or daylight, between platens when fully open).

ΚΠ

1959 Times 18 June (Suppl.) p. xvi/5 (advt.) Hydraulic presses... Multi-daylight and other special purpose presses.

1998 Wood Base Panels Internat. (Nexis) Apr. 44 The problem with having one multi-daylight press is that however many daylights you have, and however many boards you can produce, they are all more or less the same size.

multi-destination adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪdɛstᵻˈneɪʃn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌdɛstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌdɛstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

/ˌməltəˌdɛstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

having or involving more than one destination.

ΚΠ

1976 Scotsman 24 Dec. 13/6 (advt.) Experts in long distance, multi destination itineraries to Africa, Australia, the Far East and New Zealand.

1991 Intermedia Mar. 35/2 The Arab News exchange was able to inaugurate the principle of a multi-origin, multi-destination system—otherwise known as ‘hot’ switching—round the clock, round the year.

multi-diameter adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪdʌɪˈamᵻtə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˌdaɪˈæmədər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˌdaɪˈæmədər/

/ˌməltəˌdaɪˈæmədər/

Engineering having or adaptable to a variety of diameters.

ΚΠ

1918 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 29 Oct. 996/1 A slide valve in said connection, and valve-actuating means comprising a multi-diameter plunger and connections between the plunger cylinders and the boiler providing varying degrees of pressure on the different plunger diameters.

1941 W. H. Atherton Workshop Practice (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 229 Multi-diameter, formed and spherical shaped articles can be produced.

1983 Buck & Hickman Catal. 1983–5 216 A range of multi-diameter drilling and de-burring tools for use on sheet materials.

2008 Backpacker Mar. 117 (advt.) Climashield Neo Combines solid and hollow multi-diameter filaments to provide compressible loft for maximum warmth, comfort and packability.

multi-digit adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdɪdʒɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdɪdʒᵻt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɪdʒᵻt/

/ˌməltəˈdɪdʒᵻt/

containing more than one digit.

ΚΠ

1946 A. W. Burks in Moore School Lect. (1985) 90 The addition of multi-digit numbers.

1990 L. Wall & R. L. Schwartz Programming Perl iii. 104 A backslashed multi-digit number such as \\10.

multi-disc adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdɪsk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdɪsk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɪsk/

/ˌməltəˈdɪsk/

(also multi-disk) (a) consisting of more than one disc; cf. multiple-disc adj. at multiple n. and adj. Compounds 2b; (b) designed to play or use more than one disc at a time, or more than one type of disc.

ΚΠ

1912 R. W. A. Brewer Motor Car Construction xi. 132 Magnetic chucks..are admirably adapted for holding the thin rings of a multi-disc clutch.

1990 Radio-Electronics Jan. 45/3 The devices are sometimes referred to as ‘multi-disc players’..but the term ‘multi-disc’ refers not to their ability to accept several discs at once, but to their ability to accommodate several different disc formats.

1991 What Personal Computer Dec. 207/1 Multi-disk option lets you use up to 10 drives at once!

1995 Mod. Woman July 52/2 (advt.) This innovative new product..uses a multidisc tweezer system for hair removal.

multi-drop adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈdrɒp/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈdrɑp/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈdrɑp/

/ˌməltəˈdrɑp/

(a) Computing and Telecommunications designating a single signal route connecting a number of terminals; (b) designating or relating to a route having several or many drop-off points.

ΚΠ

1972 J. Martin Introd. Teleprocessing xi. 127 A line with several devices, or drop points is called a multidrop line. There can only be one message traveling at once on a multidrop line.

1988 ICL Techn. Jrnl. May 129 Ethernet is currently specified to operate over a multi-drop coaxial cable bus with baseband signalling.

1989 Motor Transport 14/5 The transport operator who once undertook multidrop work in the high street for many manufacturers or suppliers these days works mainly for or at the command of the retailers.

1997 Eastern Eye 14 Feb. 25/2 (advt.) You must have experience on 7.5 tonne vehicles for multi drop work. You will be delivering from West London to the South of England.

multi-electrode adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪᵻˈlɛktrəʊd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiᵻˈlɛkˌtroʊd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪᵻˈlɛkˌtroʊd/

possessing or involving several electrodes; spec. designating a valve in which there are two or more sets of electrodes, associated with separate electron beams, within a single envelope.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > thermionic valve > [adjective] > specific types of valve

thoriated1922

bright-emitting1924

multi-electrode1926

variable-mu1930

planar1937

1926 Wireless World 26 May 722/1 (heading) The multi-electrode valve.

1963 B. Fozard Instrumentation Nucl. Reactors viii. 77 These are multi-electrode gas-filled scaling tubes commonly arranged to give, for nuclear particle counting applications, a scaling factor per tube of ten.

1965 Math. in Biol. & Med. (Med. Res. Council) iv. 139 Is it possible to recognize automatically particular waveforms in a single channel of a multi-electrode recording [of an electroencephalogram]?

1996 Jrnl. Neurosci. Methods 70 141 Techniques such as optical recording and multi-electrode arrays makes it possible to record neuronal activities from tens or hundreds of neurons simultaneously.

multielectron adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪᵻˈlɛktrɒn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiᵻˈlɛkˌtrɑn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪᵻˈlɛkˌtrɑn/

Physics consisting of or involving more than two electrons.

ΚΠ

1952 Physical Rev. 88 1411 (title) The relativistic configuration space formulation of the multi-electron problem.

1963 L. Kerwin Atomic Physics vii. 187 As we start building multielectron atoms starting with hydrogen, the Pauli principle implies an interesting periodicity.

1998 New Scientist 29 Aug. 24/1 Kouwenhoven and his team noticed the effects of the ‘exchange force’, a quantum-mechanical effect seen in real multi-electron atoms.

multi-element adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɛlᵻm(ə)nt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɛləmənt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɛləmənt/

composed of several different elements or components.

ΚΠ

1954 Science 29 Oct. 703/1 The text proceeds through a discussion of vacuum tubes, multielement vacuum tubes, linear active circuits, [etc.].

1961 Y. Olsson On Syntax Eng. Verb iv. 85 The ‘genitive’ is a multi-element term for PRE.

1995 Chem. in Brit. Sept. 706/1 (advt.) The first truly simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace system using solid-state detection.

multienzyme adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɛnzʌɪm/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɛnˌzaɪm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɛnˌzaɪm/

Biochemistry involving several different enzymes.

ΚΠ

1949 M. Dixon (title) Multi-enzyme systems.

1959 A. L. Lehninger in J. L. Oncley et al. Biophysical Sci. xvi. 145/1 A multienzyme sequence of a dozen consecutive reactions..can be expected to occur at very low rates.

1999 Jrnl. Biol. Chem. 274 3941 The enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the mitochondrial matrix are proposed to form a multienzyme complex.

multi-faculty adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfakəlti/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfækəlti/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfækəlti/

/ˌməltəˈfækəlti/

(of an institution of higher education) possessing several faculties.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > place of education > college or university > [adjective] > types of college or university

non-residential1898

co-ordinate1912

multi-faculty1958

1958 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. A. 121 210 University College is a multi-faculty college and our procedure may be different from colleges with a single faculty.

1968 Economist 13 Apr. 42/1 The schools are to be reduced by amalgamation from twelve to six, and each is to be closely associated with a multi-faculty institution of the University of London.

1995 Independent 6 Apr. 7/2 Four multi-faculty colleges with hospital clusters around them.

multi-field adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfiːld/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfild/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfild/

/ˌməltəˈfild/

of, involving, or relating to more than one field of force, branch of study, etc.; (Photography) responding to several different parts of the field of view.

ΚΠ

1939 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 33 450 A multi-field examination for ‘junior professional assistants’.

1958 E. H. Carr Socialism in One Country I. v. 215 The substitution of a multi-field system for the current three-field rotation.

1991 Buying Cameras Mar. 49/2 The F-401 uses a different system called multifield metering. It again takes several readings from the picture area and assesses each one.

multifile adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪfʌɪl/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌfaɪl/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌfaɪl/

/ˈməltəˌfaɪl/

Computing of, relating to, or consisting of more than one file.

ΚΠ

1970 Ann. Rev. Information Sci. & Technol. 5 176 In multifile searching, one uses information stored on one file to make the decision as to whether or not a record in another file should be selected.

1996 WEBTechniques Aug. 64/1 The multifile find-and-replace function..can be a lifesaver for updating a large Web site when a URL or filename changes.

multi-flue adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfluː/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈflu/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈflu/

/ˌməltəˈflu/

having more than one flue or more than two flues.

ΚΠ

1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 121/1 The multiflue boiler of Mr. Booth.

1969 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 265 270 Engineering problems with the single chimney principle—the solution of which has led to the multiflue design.

1991 J. Blair & N. Ramsay Eng. Medieval Industries viii. 202 Single-flue kilns appear in the pre-Conquest period. Double-flue and multi-flue kilns were introduced in the 13th century.

multifont adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfɒnt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfɑnt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfɑnt/

/ˌməltəˈfɑnt/

chiefly Computing relating to or possessing the ability to read or print characters of several different fonts or designs; using several fonts.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > reading > reader > [adjective] > type of reading machine

multifont1961

1961 Proc. IRE 49 185/2 Extensions of the notions described will result in improved multifont recognition and in gains toward the isolation of the character separation problem.

1970 Computers & Humanities 5 75 The Scan-Data 300 is genuinely multifont.

1986 V. G. Cerf in T. C. Bartee Digital Communications iv. 145 One of the ideas attracting special interest was the integration of text and graphics into compound documents (multifont text and graphics documents).

multi-frequency adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfriːkwənsi/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfrikwənsi/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfrikwənsi/

/ˌməltəˈfrikwənsi/

Electronics capable of receiving, operating across, or generating a range of frequencies.

ΚΠ

1911 H. M. Hobart Electr. Propulsion Ships xv. 154 The example may be taken of two components of a multi-frequency generator.

1936 Proc. Royal Soc. 1935–6 A. 153 640 Experiments..dealing with the variation of the reflexion coefficient with time (as distinct from the multi-frequency method used here).

1968 IEEE Trans. Communication Technol. 16 624/1 The Touch-Tone dialing feature offered by the Bell System requires a multifrequency audio oscillator in the subscriber's set.

1991 Compute Nov. 54/2 You need multifrequency monitors to display Super VGA and 8514.

multifurrow adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfʌrəʊ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfəroʊ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfəroʊ/

/ˌməltəˈfəroʊ/

now rare capable of ploughing more than one furrow at a time.

ΚΠ

1778 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 11 Sept. 1774 It [sc. an implement] is multifurrow—the number may be increased or decreased at pleasure.

a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 623/2 Multifurrow Plow, one having several bodies for plowing two or more furrows at once.

multigrain adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪɡreɪn/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌɡreɪn/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌɡreɪn/

/ˈməltəˌɡreɪn/

involving or containing more than one grain; made from more than one type of cereal grain.

ΚΠ

1956 Micropaleontology 2 399 (title) A technique for the preparation of multi-grain palynological slides.

1973 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 332 445 There are two major objections to using this single-grain technique for understanding motions in a multi-grain flow on a free bed.

1978 Business Week (Nexis) 30 Oct. 73 Nabisco's research center..is experimenting with multigrain products and new textures and shapes.

1994 Canad. Select Homes Oct. 67/2 To make croutons, cut 5 slices of leftover bread (French, Italian, pumpernickel, sourdough, multigrain..) into cubes.

multi-gun adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɡʌn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɡən/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡən/

/ˌməltəˈɡən/

consisting of or having multiple guns (in various senses).

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > equipment > decorating equipment > [adjective] > painting equipment

multi-gun1935

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [adjective] > consisting of several guns

multi-gun1935

1935 Discovery Nov. 326/2 Large multi-gun sets for painting factories, bridges, etc.

1936 Aeroplane 1 July 21/2 The interesting points are the invisibility of the numerous guns carried by the multi-gun fighters, [etc.].

1977 Time 20 June 14/1 Batteries of cannon fired multigun salutes.

multihit adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈhɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈhɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈhɪt/

/ˌməltəˈhɪt/

involving many hits; (Medicine and Biology) involving more than one contributing event or factor; (Baseball) involving more than one base hit.

ΚΠ

1946 D. E. Lea Actions of Radiations on Living Cells iii. 71 We shall not discuss in detail the ‘multi-hit’ target theory in which the biological effect is supposed due to the cumulative effect of several ionizing particles separately passing through the target.

1968 H. Harris Nucleus & Cytoplasm ii. 30 The kinetics of the decay of protein synthesis in the presence of actinomycin D are also extremely variable: in some cases the decay curves suggest a simple exponential function;..in others..they have a ‘multi-hit’ character suggesting that more than one event is required to produce a perceptible effect.

1991 Sports Illustr. 3 June 73/1 He had 13 multihit performances in his first 20 games.

multi-image adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈɪmɪdʒ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈɪmɪdʒ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈɪmɪdʒ/

Television, Film and Video Recording composed of, employing, or producing multiple or overlapping images.

ΚΠ

1962 Punch 17 Jan. 133/3 Technicians..explain..what you can and cannot do with a multi-image lens [in television].

1969 Focal Encycl. Film & Television Techniques 472/2 Multi-image films make use of expanding and diminishing pictures.

1992 Videomaker Feb. 39/3 Small multi-image stills could be grabbed for each program on an archive videotape.

multi-kilo adj. and n.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈkiːləʊ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈkiloʊ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈkiloʊ/

/ˌməltəˈkiloʊ/

(a) adj. weighing many kilograms; dealing in or relating to amounts that weigh many kilograms; (b) n. (in plural) many kilograms.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [adjective] > weighing specific amount

scrupular1656

sextulary1657

semuncial1887

thousand-pound1898

multi-kilo1971

society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > [adjective] > drug trafficking

drug dealing1795

multi-kilo1971

1971 Science 14 May 769 (advt.) Multi-kilo quantities can be shipped immediately from our ample stocks.

1975 Chicago Sun-Times 2 Mar. 24/1 The..policy of pursuing ‘big-time, multi-kilo narcotics traffickers’.

1989 New Scientist 17 June 23/1 (advt.) We are currently producing multikilo quantities of ultra pure phospholipids.

1993 R. Rucker et al. Mondo 2000 (U.K. ed.) 122/2 The multikilos of macerated, steamed, bleached, and pressed trees that accompany most soft- or hardware products.

multilanguage adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈlaŋɡwɪdʒ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

/ˌməltəˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

presented in or involving more than one language.

ΚΠ

1946 Public Opinion Q. 10 140 The difficulties of multi-language [film] production are overcome in many instances by having the sound in the form of a commentary changeable as required.

1975 Times 29 Aug. 4/8 A multi-language service in St Peter's Square.

1989 DEC Professional Nov. 24/2 This module supports international order processing through the use of multilanguage invoice documents.

1998 Australian 1 Dec. (Brisbane ed.) (Computer/Gift Suppl.) 4/3 It includes a multilanguage operation that displays prompts in one of four languages.

multi-length adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪlɛŋ(k)θ/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌlɛŋθ/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌlɛŋθ/

/ˈməltəˌlɛŋθ/

Computing designating or involving numbers or data items that are stored over two or more addressable units, allowing for greater precision.

ΚΠ

1948 Gloss. Computer Terms (M.I.T. Servomechanisms Lab. Rep. R-138) 7 Multiple-length number, a number that occupies more than one register, used for higher accuracy or for alphabetic information.]

1951 M. V. Wilkes et al. Prepar. Programs for Electronic Digital Computer i. iv. 25 It is hoped that subroutines for performing the following calculations will shortly be included: multilength arithmetic, calculation of hyperbolic functions, solution of algebraic equations, etc.

1972 Nature 28 Apr. 473/2 Alan Barker..has given an effective procedure for finding all the solutions for given k, albeit one that requires multilength computer programs for its practical implementation.

1986 Math. of Computation 47 360 The largest integer allowed by the compiler is 2³⁵ − 1 < 4 × 10¹⁰ and a rather clumsy ad hoc and multi-length arithmetic procedure has to be incorporated into the programs.

multi-lens adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈlɛnz/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈlɛnz/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɛnz/

/ˌməltəˈlɛnz/

containing or employing several or many lenses; spec. (of a camera) having more than one compound lens.

ΚΠ

1936 Science 15 May 454/2 Lieutenant O. S. Reading..is responsible for the development of the latest type of multi-lens camera.

1986 C. P. Lo Appl. Remote Sensing i. 11 Multiband photography is possible with the use of an array of synchronized cameras..or a multi-lens camera.

1993 Science 20 Aug. 982/3 The multi-lens compound eyes of insects.

multilocus adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈləʊkəs/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈloʊkəs/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈloʊkəs/

/ˌməltəˈloʊkəs/

Genetics of or relating to more than one genetic locus.

ΚΠ

1958 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 44 893 A test for a multilocus factor A is provided by the three crosses, A⁴¹ × A¹, A⁴¹ × A², and A¹ × A².

1999 New Scientist 30 Oct. 86/2 (advt.) You will..apply these with methods for multilocus linkage and association analysis of common disease genes.

multimachine adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪməˈʃiːn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiməˈʃin/

/ˌməlˌtaɪməˈʃin/

/ˌməltəməˈʃin/

involving or relating to more than one machine, esp. more than one computer.

ΚΠ

1954 Math. Tables & Other Aids Computation 8 43 (title) Problems arising in the administration of a multi-machine digital computing service.

1960 Times 24 Nov. 2/5 One of the..units in the industry has asked for a man..to take over the responsibility for running a multi-machine mill.

1988 Computer Weekly 14 Apr. 25 (advt.) Perhaps you prefer the idea of a multimachine configuration, that grows with the company.

multimegabit adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmɛɡəbɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmɛɡəˌbɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɛɡəˌbɪt/

/ˌməltəˈmɛɡəˌbɪt/

Computing able to process several million bits per second.

ΚΠ

1988 IEEE Trans. Computers Oct. 1235/1 Multimegabit dynamic RAM's have already become reality.

1993 Guardian 1 Dec. i. 19/2 Its new switched multimegabit data service can handle the very large quantities of data needed for multimedia applications on existing fibre optic networks.

multimegawatt adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmɛɡəwɒt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmɛɡəˌwɑt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɛɡəˌwɑt/

/ˌməltəˈmɛɡəˌwɑt/

producing or involving millions of watts.

ΚΠ

1971 Sci. Amer. Sept. 44/3 With multimegawatt fast breeders now being constructed in the U.S.S.R. and in western Europe, there appears to be little doubt about their engineering feasibility.

1992 New Scientist 12 Sept. 40/2 I had seen multimegawatt hydro schemes in eastern Canada.

multi-metal adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmɛtl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmɛd(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɛd(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈmɛd(ə)l/

composed of or involving more than one metal; (Chemistry) composed of a number of metal atoms.

ΚΠ

1964 J. S. Webb et al. Regional Geochem. Reconnaissance in Namwala Concession area, Zambia 2 Our researches..were extended in 1957 to determine the feasibility of multi-metal stream sediment analysis as a basis for regional geochemical survey.

1975 Nature 3 Jan. 8/2 The fact that nitrogenase contains a large number of metal ions lends some credence to the view that a multi-metal centre is responsible for reduction.

1997 J. Williams Money iii. 80/2 The next step was the revival of gold coinage and the creation of a multi-metallic system (gold, silver and often base silver) covering a range of denominations.

multi-microphone adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmʌɪkrəfəʊn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/

/ˌməltəˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/

involving the deployment of several microphones in different positions.

ΚΠ

1941 B.B.C. Gloss. Broadcasting Terms 19 Multi-microphone technique, method of production in which several microphones, with outputs centralized in a mixer, are used either simultaneously or in succession to reproduce sounds from a single studio or hall.

1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio iii. 61 If a close balance is adopted in a multi-microphone mix, artificial ‘echo’ may be added.

1974 Nature 13 Dec. 535/2 In the recording industry it is customary to mix-down multi-microphone recordings onto four-track master tape.

multi-mirror adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmɪrə/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmɪrər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɪrər/

/ˌməltəˈmɪrər/

having or employing several mirrors; (spec. in Astronomy) designating or relating to a telescope in which light is focused on to a focal plane by a number of separate mirrors.

ΚΠ

1969 Appl. Optics 8 1119/2 A multi-mirror resonator can be treated as consisting of infinitely extended, plane and parallel aligned mirrors and filled with plane light waves traveling along the resonator axis, perpendicular to the mirrors.

1972 Science 21 July 247/3 New optical telescopes, such as a prototype of a novel multimirror design.

1989 M. Longair in P. Davies New Physics vi. 203/1 Among these is the US National New Technology Telescope (NNTT), which is planned to be of multi-mirror telescope design.

1991 Lighting Dimensions Nov. 9/1 (advt.) Imagine a lighting controller that will run..downlighters, floods, multi-mirror lamps, neon.

multi-mission adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmɪʃn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmɪʃ(ə)n/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɪʃ(ə)n/

/ˌməltəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/

Military (frequently of an aircraft) involving, undertaking, or able to carry out more than one mission simultaneously; multi-purpose.

ΚΠ

1960 Compilation Papers summarizing Some Recent NASA Res. on Manned Mil. Aircraft (NASA Techn. Rep. TM-X-420) 13 (title) Aerodynamic research relative to variable-sweep multimission aircraft.

1989 Air Pictorial Feb. 49/2 The US Department of State has ordered two Cessna Caravan 1 turboprop utility aircraft to fill a multimission role in its narcotics control.

1996 Times 20 May 5/1 The advanced F22 Stealth fighter is due in operation by 2005 and the multi-mission Joint Strike Fighter by about 2010.

multimovement adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈmuːvm(ə)nt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈmuvm(ə)nt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈmuvm(ə)nt/

/ˌməltəˈmuvm(ə)nt/

consisting of several (musical) movements; involving several (bodily) movements.

ΚΠ

1966 Renaissance News 19 267 The use of variation to unite different parts of these multimovement pieces is significant.

1989 Brain 112 997 Coordination for multimovement actions such as speech.

1998 Gramophone Jan. 96/2 Genoveva (1847–9) rather resembles a multi-movement tone-poem for voices and orchestra.

multi-parameter adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪpəˈramᵻtə/

U.S.

/ˌməltipəˈræmədər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪpəˈræmədər/

/ˌməltəpəˈræmədər/

based on or relating to more than one parameter.

ΚΠ

1938 Rev. Econ. Stud. 5 150 Good fits obtained from relatively few data and with multi-parameter curves [yield a low measure of validity].

1989 Weatherwise Dec. 351/1 Get $100.00 off the purchase price..when you trade in your old multi-parameter weather station.

1997 Electronics Times (Nexis) 12 June 67 Up to five parameters can be displayed at one time and two internal logging modes offer multi-parameter logging or a screen save facility.

multipart adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪˌpɑːt/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌpɑrt/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌpɑrt/

/ˈməltəˌpɑrt/

consisting of or having more than one part.

ΚΠ

1928 Daily Express 4 May 2/3 The powers given under the Electricity Supply Act of 1926 ‘to introduce what are known as multi-part tariffs, whereby a consumer, who is willing to use energy for a number of purposes, may pay a fixed charge yearly and then pay a low running charge per unit’.

1963 Mil. Affairs 27 123/2 The committee recommended a multi-part amendment to the Constitution.

1990 Managem. Computing Nov. 72/3 People who want multipart stationery and tractor feed for cheques and labels will need an impact technology.

multipartisan adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɑːtᵻz(ə)n/

/ˌmʌltɪpɑːtᵻˈzan/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɑrdəz(ə)n/

/ˌməltiˈpɑrdəˌzæn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɑrdəz(ə)n/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɑrdəˌzæn/

/ˌməltəˈpɑrdəz(ə)n/

/ˌməltəˈpɑrdəˌzæn/

(also multipartizan) of, representing, or composed of members of more than two (political or other) parties; cf. bipartisan adj.

ΚΠ

1895 Cent. Mag. Aug. 635/1 Multi-partizan government leads inevitably to greater and more diversified partizanship.

1911 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 5 537 We have simply replaced the bi-partisan system of politics, with what is, in effect, the multi-partisan or Continental group system.

1958 New Statesman 17 May 622/1 Lebanese politicians, assisted by an ingenious constitution, have hitherto been at immense pains to adopt programmes which command multipartisan support.

1991 Parl. Affairs 44 441 Part of the novelty may well be a multi-partisan commitment to constitutional reform.

multiperiod adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɪərɪəd/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɪriəd/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪriəd/

/ˌməltəˈpɪriəd/

involving, characteristic of, or dating from several different periods.

ΚΠ

1948 Amer. Econ. Rev. 38 279 The theory of the firm can attempt to be ‘dynamic’ by introducing separate cost and revenue functions for each period within the man's horizon (i.e., multi-period analysis).

1988 Rev. Financial Stud. Summer 175 The sensitivity of asset prices to transition costs in a multiperiod setting.

1993 Shakespeare Bull. Summer 13/3 Costuming was unobtrusively handled in a multi-period manner, with Henry dressed throughout in almost unadorned black.

multiphoton adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈfəʊtɒn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈfoʊˌtɑn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈfoʊˌtɑn/

/ˌməltəˈfoʊˌtɑn/

Physics involving more than one photon.

ΚΠ

1965 Science 22 Jan. 385/1 General areas of discussion will be non-linear phenomena..; multiphoton absorption; breakdown in gases..[etc.].

1998 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 3364/2 Higher collision energies and infrared multiphoton dissociation..produced no other identifiable fragments.

multi-pin adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈpɪn/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈpɪn/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪn/

/ˌməltəˈpɪn/

having more than two electrical connecting pins.

ΚΠ

1963 Thorn Electr. Industr. Group Profile 16 Multi-pin electrical connectors.

1989 Which? Sept. 445/2 It's worth going for a TV with a SCART socket—a special multi-pin connector designed to simplify connecting together video equipment.

multiplate adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪˌpleɪt/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌpleɪt/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌpleɪt/

/ˈməltəˌpleɪt/

having or consisting of more than two plates.

ΚΠ

1928 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 118 297 K is an adjustable parallel plate condenser..and S represents a multiplate quenched spark gap.

1948 Motor Manual (ed. 33) vii. 121 The multi-plate clutch, in which two sets of metal discs were arranged alternately in sandwich fashion. One set was attached to the driving shaft, and the other..to the driven shaft.

1971 Engineering Apr. 49 (caption) This picture shows the multiplate construction of the differential capacitor probe fitted to the gauging head.

1998 Automotive Engineer Oct. 37/2 Electro-hydraulically controlled, power is distributed between front and rear axles by a multi-plate clutch.

multi-platinum adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈplatᵻnəm/

/ˌmʌltɪˈplatn̩əm/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈplætn̩əm/

/ˌməltiˈplætnəm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈplætn̩əm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈplætnəm/

/ˌməltəˈplætn̩əm/

/ˌməltəˈplætnəm/

designating or relating to a recording which has sold over two million copies (in a particular country); see platinum n. 2.

ΚΠ

1980 Washington Post 21 Dec. l 8/3 Producers like Chris Christian and Michael Omartian (who produced the multi-platinum Christopher Cross album on the secular side).

2000 Leicester Mercury (Electronic ed.) 12 Aug. Their explosive debut album K swiftly scaled the album charts, reaching multi platinum status.

multiproblem adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈprɒbləm/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈprɑbləm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɑbləm/

/ˌməltəˈprɑbləm/

characterized by two or more problems or difficulties.

ΚΠ

1959 L. L. Geismar & B. Ayres Patterns of Change in Problem Families p. v The Family Centered Project is an effort directed at improving the functioning of multi-problem families.

1985 Computerworld 6 May (Update section) 19/1 A second Darpa project—the battle management system—is..based on a multiperson, multiproblem paradigm.

1994 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 24 Mar. 1/1 The parents of the children who entered placement were highly dysfunctional, multi-problem families.

multi-product adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈprɒdʌkt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈprɑdək(t)/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɑdək(t)/

/ˌməltəˈprɑdək(t)/

that contains, manufactures, sells or involves more than one product (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1937 Amer. Econ. Rev. 27 630 A physical measure of output of a multiproduct plant is constructed.

1968 M. S. Livingston Particle Physics x. 174 The detailed kinematic analysis of all products of a multi-product interaction can often lead to identification of a resonance state.

1994 Meat Trade Jrnl. 5 May 15/4 Moreover, packs can be single and/or multi-product, with fixed piece count, variable piece count or average piece count.

multiprotocol adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈprəʊtəkɒl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈproʊdəˌkɔl/

/ˌməltiˈproʊdəˌkɑl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈproʊdəˌkɔl/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈproʊdəˌkɑl/

/ˌməltəˈproʊdəˌkɔl/

/ˌməltəˈproʊdəˌkɑl/

Computing relating to, involving, or capable of handling more than one networking or data exchange protocol.

ΚΠ

1977 Microcomputer '77 Conf. Rec. (IEEE) 5/1 The 2652 USRT is a multi-protocol, programmable synchronous receiver/transmitter.

1991 Macworld Sept. 137/3 Shiva Corporation has introduced the FastPath 5, the latest incarnation of its multiprotocol LocalTalk-to-Ethernet gateway.

1995 Data Communications Internat. Jan. 39/2 Prioritization enables net managers to apportion bandwidth to individual protocols—absolutely critical in multiprotocol environments.

multi-range adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈreɪn(d)ʒ/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈreɪndʒ/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪndʒ/

/ˌməltəˈreɪndʒ/

having more than one range (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1908 Proc. Royal Soc. 1907–8 A. 80 344 This instrument had been wound for use as a multirange voltmeter.

1953 Copper in Instrumentation (Copper Devel. Assoc.) ii. 93 In most moving-coil voltmeters only a fraction of the voltage to be measured is impressed on the moving coil itself... A suitable selection of resistance values enables a multi-range instrument to be produced.

1995 Internat. Jrnl. Bank Marketing (Nexis) 13 No. 3. 28 If you were suddenly transported into the middle of a modern multirange retailer..it would be difficult to work out from the design and shopfittings alone which outlet you were in.

multi-reflex adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈriːflɛks/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈriˌflɛks/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈriˌflɛks/

/ˌməltəˈriˌflɛks/

involving more than one reflection or reflex.

ΚΠ

1881 Nature 29 Dec. 198/1 Our multireflex arrangement..for creating greater sensitiveness.

1911 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 85 p.v There were also..a multi-reflex arrangement for measuring the angular motion of a mirror.

1994 Muscle Nerve 17 475 Distinct reflex abnormalities indicate lesions at specific sites. Multireflex testing improves the accuracy with which localization can be made.

multi-row adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪˌrəʊ/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌroʊ/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌroʊ/

/ˈməltəˌroʊ/

having or producing more than one row (of something).

ΚΠ

1930 Amer. Econ. Rev. 20 121 Today one finds farmers debating the feasibility of the new harvesting devices or the multi-row cultivators primarily in terms of the percentage of grain which might be missed.

1958 Chambers's Techn. Dict. (ed. 3) 996/1 Multi-row radial engine, a radial aero-engine with two or more rows of cylinders.

1971 Power Farming Mar. 11/1 For beans, Herbert had come up with a multi-row harvester which not only reduced the time in the field, but caused less damage.

1989 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 324 183 Temperature changes behind a dense, multi-row shelter belt.

multi-site adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsʌɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsaɪt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsaɪt/

/ˌməltəˈsaɪt/

having or involving more than one site (in various senses).

ΚΠ

1958 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 246 375 Curve 1..indicates a non-specific combination at numerous sites. Curves 2 and 3..are concave upwards indicating a similar multi-site combination.

1976 Aviation Week (Nexis) 4 Oct. 14 The Pentagon official said he had discussed this multi-site solution with the armament directors of most of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries.

2000 PrintWeek 25 Feb. 28/2 (advt.) A large, multi-site operation with hundreds of operator and output devices running a mixture of proprietary workflows.

† multi-soil adj. Agriculture Obsolete rare having several different types of soil.

ΚΠ

1778 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 8 Jan. 1776 A multi-soil Farm.

multispecies adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspiːʃɪz/

/ˌmʌltɪˈspiːʃiːz/

/ˌmʌltɪˈspiːsɪz/

/ˌmʌltɪˈspiːsiːz/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspiʃiz/

/ˌməltiˈspisiz/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspiʃiz/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspisiz/

/ˌməltəˈspiʃiz/

/ˌməltəˈspisiz/

of, relating to, or involving several or many species.

ΚΠ

1946 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 73 194 Some taxonomists..separate the complex into several species. The principal exponent of the multi-species viewpoint was Greene.

1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 5 270 A single species population in an axenic culture, or an ecological succession in a multispecies system.

1992 In-Fisherman Feb. 119 (advt.) The no-nonsense layout..and ample storage room are just what the multi-species angler needs to fish all kinds of water in all kinds of weather.

multi-spindle adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspɪndl/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspɪnd(ə)l/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪnd(ə)l/

/ˌməltəˈspɪnd(ə)l/

chiefly Engineering having more than one spindle.

ΚΠ

1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Add. Multi-spindle.

1940 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 27 557 The multinucleate condition of telophase I introduces a multi-spindle formation in the second meiotic mitosis.

1964 S. Crawford Basic Engin. Processes ix. 224 The multi-spindle machines consist of a series of pillar drills mounted over a common table, thus eliminating the constant tool change associated with the single-spindle machine.

1991 Mech. Engin. Sept. 54/3 Nassar's group hopes to complete the development of a multispindle tool that would simultaneously tighten up to 20 bolts.

multisport adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈspɔːt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈspɔrt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɔrt/

/ˌməltəˈspɔrt/

(also multisports) (a) (of a sports centre or ground, etc.) designed or suitable for a variety of sporting activities; (b) (of an athlete, organization, etc.) involved or competing in more than one sport.

ΚΠ

1963 Guardian 28 Mar. 13/5 Britain, he believes, has suffered from being the pioneer of mass sports... Continental countries have picked up the basic ideas from Britain, and found it much easier to promote multi-sport centres and activities.

1977 Final Rep. President's Comm. on Olympic Sports (U.S.) I. ii. c. 35/1 Sport development programs in the U.S. are administered and operated by national governing bodies.., multi-sport organizations, and other amateur sports groups.

1994 Leisure Manager Aug. 62/2 The Sports Council has commissioned a project to investigate the effectiveness of this process, using performance tests on a eight-year-old sand-filled synthetic turf multisports pitch.

1997 Indianapolis Star 12 Aug. d5/2 Multi-sport athletes who played quarterback for a Pac-10 school and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars two days apart.

multistart adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈstɑːt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈstɑrt/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɑrt/

/ˌməltəˈstɑrt/

having more than one start; (spec. in Engineering, of a screw or worm) having more than one helical thread.

ΚΠ

1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 564/1 Multi-start worm, a worm in which two or more helical threads are used in order to obtain a larger pitch and hence a higher velocity ratio of the drive.

1958 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 248 99 It is probable that multi-start spiral gratings are of academic interest only, but single-start spirals offer the possibility of production by ruling on rotating blanks.

1971 B. Scharf Engin. & its Lang. xii. 158 With single-start worms, lead equals pitch, but on multi-start worms, it amounts to pitch × number of starts (i.e. number of thread sections in a plane at right angles to the axis).

1994 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 89 1553/1 This algorithm can be compared to the multistart algorithm used for solving global optimization problems.

multistep adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈstɛp/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈstɛp/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɛp/

/ˌməltəˈstɛp/

involving or comprising a number of steps or stages.

ΚΠ

1941 Sci. Monthly July 87/2 Such a multi-step relay system yields speech quality equal to or better than that furnished by the usual broadcasting toll wire service.

1951 A. C. Clarke Exploration of Space vi. 57 The multistep rocket with a winged final stage..is used to take material up to the orbit round the Earth.

1978 Dædalus Spring 13 Fundamental research in recombinant DNA is based on a novel ‘technique’—the introduction into a bacterial cell of a segment of foreign DNA by means of a now familiar multistep procedure.

1990 Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) 30 Nov. i. 3/2 A..meeting designed to walk parents through the district's multi-step complaint process.

multi-strike adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈstrʌɪk/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈstraɪk/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈstraɪk/

/ˌməltəˈstraɪk/

(of a typewriter or printer ribbon) capable of being struck by the printing elements many times in the same place before wearing out.

ΚΠ

1974 Office Nov. 126/2 Ribbons in cassettes [for a word processor] are clean and easy to change and available in multistrike varieties for original recording or single-strike types for high-quality playback.

1992 Portable Computing 1 20 The multi-strike ribbon holds up for about triple that figure, but you don't get nearly the same print quality.

multisubunit adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsʌbjuːnɪt/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsəbˌjunət/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsəbˌjunət/

/ˌməltəˈsəbˌjunət/

Biochemistry designating or relating to a protein or other macromolecular complex consisting of more than two subunits.

ΚΠ

1966 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 56 1273 Proteins which exhibit allosteric effects do seem to share the property of multisubunit makeup and reversible equilibria between the polymeric macromolecules and their subunits.

1989 B. Alberts et al. Molecular Biol. Cell (ed. 2) xii. 712 The phosphorylase kinase of skeletal muscle..is a multisubunit enzyme, but only one of its four subunits actually catalyses the phosphorylation reaction.

2002 Molecular Cell 9 11 A multisubunit ring structure (in this case a homomeric hexamer).

multisystem adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈsɪstᵻm/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈsɪstəm/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪstəm/

/ˌməltəˈsɪstəm/

of or involving more than one system; compatible with more than one system; (spec. in Medicine) affecting more than one organ system.

ΚΠ

1952 Econ. Jrnl. 62 363 They have created a series of hypothetical economic systems... This multi-system analysis forms the central core of the book.

1959 Amer. Jrnl. Med. 27 829 (title) Fabry's disease (angiokeratoma corporis diffusum universale). An unusual syndrome with multisystem involvement and unique skin manifestations.

1983 Austral. Personal Computer Aug. 11/1 It is called a ‘multi-system’ computer because it has no ROM and no fixable language but is instead compatible with more than fifty expansion cards.

1991 Sun (Baltimore) 18 Aug. (Our Maryland section) 40/5 Utilize trauma theory to manage the complicated needs of the multi-system injured patient.

2002 Jrnl. Clin. Gastroenterol. 34 446 Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy is a rare, multisystem disorder.

multi-ton adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪtʌn/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌtən/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌtən/

/ˈməltəˌtən/

freq. hyperbolical that weighs many tons; of a magnitude of many tons; also figurative.

ΚΠ

1960 Science 8 Apr. 1020/2 Huge rocket booster vehicles capable of sending multi-ton payloads into space.

1988 F. A. Cotton & G. Wilkinson Adv. Inorg. Chem. (ed. 5) vi. 180 Decoborane(14) has been made on a multiton scale as a rocket fuel.

1993 Wired Mar. (Premiere Issue) 48/1 It makes all the proper sounds:..the multi-ton coffee-grinder racket as the turret slews, the concussive thud of the main gun firing.

multi-turn adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪtəːn/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌtərn/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌtərn/

/ˈməltəˌtərn/

having or requiring more than one turn; designating an electromagnetic coil having more than one turn; (of an electrical device) equipped with a coil of this type.

ΚΠ

1927 A. E. Clayton Performance & Design Direct Current Machines iii. 49 Each of these coils may consist of any desired number of turns, i.e. may either be a ‘single-turn coil’ or a ‘multi-turn coil’.

1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict 564/1 Multi-turn current transformer, a current transformer in which there are several turns on the primary winding.

1989 A. C. Davies Sci. & Pract. Welding (ed. 9) I. iv. 185 A solenoid is a multi-turn coil of insulated wire wound uniformly on a cylindrical former.

1992 Mech. Products & Tools July 1406/2 Double ended with protruding steel blade for single turn presets and recessed blade for multiturn presets.

multivendor adj.

Brit.

/ˌmʌltɪˈvɛndə/

/ˌmʌltɪˈvɛndɔː/

U.S.

/ˌməltiˈvɛndər/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɛndər/

/ˌməltəˈvɛndər/

/ˌməltiˈvɛnˌdɔr/

/ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɛnˌdɔr/

/ˌməltəˈvɛnˌdɔr/

Computing involving or relating to more than one hardware or software supplier or network service provider; (of equipment or software) originating from different suppliers.

ΚΠ

1970 Control Engin. June 79 There are..tips for minicomputer buyers on negotiating warranties and on arranging maintenance for a multivendor system.

1988 ICL Techn. Jrnl. 6 101 The first migration steps towards this kind of multi-vendor operation will be the application of individual application services..to interchange files between co-operating systems.

1994 Computing 28 July 24/2 Despite vendors' support of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and other standard management protocols, there is no common method for multivendor tools to talk to each other.

multiwire adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltᵻwʌɪə/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌwaɪ(ə)r/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌwaɪ(ə)r/

/ˈməltəˌwaɪ(ə)r/

Science consisting of, containing, or involving a number of wires, esp. as detectors or transmitters.

ΚΠ

1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 564/1 Multiwire antenna, an antenna consisting of a number of horizontal wires in parallel.

1968 Nucl. Instruments & Methods 65 217/1 The number of amplifiers required for the readout of a proportional multiwire chamber.

1981 J. B. Adams in J. H. Mulvey Nature of Matter vii. 158 One multiwire plane only measures one coordinate accurately.

1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 136/1 Geiger counters, nuclear emulsions, and cloud chambers were among the first with scintillation counters, Čerenkov counters, spark chambers..multiwire proportional chambers..and plastic track detectors coming later.

multi-word adj.

Brit.

/ˈmʌltɪwəːd/

U.S.

/ˈməltiˌwərd/

/ˈməlˌtaɪˌwərd/

/ˈməltəˌwərd/

chiefly Linguistics (of a noun or lexical item) containing more than one word.

ΚΠ

1961 R. B. Long Sentence & its Parts i. 15 Many kinds of words and multi-word units function as adjuncts.

1966 G. N. Leech Eng. in Advertising ii. 22 Idioms are treated as multi-word lexical items.

1990 J. Bishop & M. Waldholz Genome ii. 66 The name quickly would be reduced to RFLPs, given the scientific journals' practice of reducing multi-word nouns to initials.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	multi-
释义	multi-comb. form Stress is usually determined by a subsequent element and vowels may be reduced accordingly. Forms: Before a vowel occasionally mult-. Origin: A borrowing from Latin. Etymons: Latin multi-, multus. Etymology: < classical Latin multi-, combining form (see below) of multus much, many, cognate with melior (see meliorate v.) and ancient Greek μάλα very.The compounds having this prefix in Latin belong for the most part to the early or late part of the classical period; they are chiefly of parasynthetic formation, in which multi- = ‘many’, as multangulus many-angled, multicaulis many-stalked, multigener of many kinds, but a certain number of objective or adverbial compounds also existed, in which multi- = ‘much’, as multibibus drinking much, multicupidus desiring much, multiscius knowing much. The earliest English words containing multi- came through Anglo-Norman and French into Middle English (multiply v., multitude n.). The earliest English borrowings directly < Latin were multiplex adj., multifary adv., multiloquy n., multiplicator n., multiformity n., multifarious adj.; they did not become numerous until the middle of the 17th cent. The majority of English words beginning with multi- before the late 16th cent. are related to or derived < multiply and multitude . This is also true for French, Italian and Spanish. Before the 19th cent., most Romance words beginning with multi- are taken directly < Latin. In other Germanic languages, forms corresponding to multiply are attested from the 15th cent. or later; in German, formations in multi- become frequent from the 20th cent., probably under the influence of English. The first uses of multi- to form words within English date from the early 17th cent. (multivariety n., multilateral adj., multinomial adj.); it does not become common until the 19th cent. Formations become most frequent in the mid 20th cent. From the end of the 19th cent., formations in multi- are found with elements not ultimately of Greek or Latin origin (for an apparently isolated earlier example see multithreaded adj.). See note s.v. many adj., pron., n., and adv. Compounds on overlap between compounds in multi- and many- . Compare also poly- comb. form. A reduced vowel in the second syllable may also occur in compounds formed on multi-.The position of the stress in such compounds differs in accordance with the general stress patterns of English, and may also vary contextually. 1. Forming parasynthetic adjectives, with the sense ‘more than one, several, many’. From the adjectives are formed adverbs (e.g. multiserially) and nouns (e.g. multicellularity). Some formations of this kind acquire a noun sense, as multicore, multiengine. a. In scientific and technical use. multi-areolate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪəˈriːəleɪt/ , /ˌmʌltɪəˈriːələt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈɛːrɪə(ʊ)leɪt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈɛːrɪələt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiəˈriələt/ , /ˌməltiəˈriəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪəˈriələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪəˈriəˌleɪt/ consisting of many small areas. ΚΠ 1861 H. Hagen Synopsis Neuroptera N. Amer. 341 Multi-areolate. 1961 Fieldiana: Zool. 42 116 Subcostal area very wide, multi-areolate, sharply convexly deflexed downward. multiaxial adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈaksɪəl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈæksiəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈæksiəl/ having or involving many axes. ΚΠ 1864 H. Spencer Princ. Biol. I. §50. 137 Of multiaxial growth that is discontinuous, a familiar instance among plants exists in the common strawberry. 1924 Amer. Naturalist 58 124 The patterns of hydroid colonies and of certain multiaxial plants resemble each other very closely. 1985 Machine Design 21 Mar. 66/1 The material dissipates energy laterally, and does a good job at absorbing torsional and multiaxial forces. multibacillary adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltᵻbəˈsɪl(ə)ri/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈbasᵻl(ə)ri/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈbæsəˌlɛri/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈbæsəˌlɛri/ , /ˌməltəˈbæsəˌlɛri/ [after French multibacillaire (1940 or earlier)] Medicine containing many bacilli; spec. designating mycobacterial infections, esp. types of leprosy, in which some or many bacilli can be demonstrated in lesions or secretions; of, relating to, or suffering from such an infection; cf. paucibacillary adj. at pauci- comb. form . ΚΠ 1942 Proc. 6th Pacific Sci. Congr. (Pacific Sci. Assoc.) V. 953 In consequence, while the lepromatous form is multi-bacillary, the neural may show few or no bacilli. 1965 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 16 Jan. 188/2 The proportion of cases which are lepromatous (multibacillary) varies tremendously in reported series. 1986 Indian Jrnl. Leprosy 58 79 Finger print patterns of 150 male leprosy patients (100 paucibacillary and 50 multibacillary leprosy) were compared with 50 matched controls. 2000 Austral. Vet. Jrnl. 78 34 Excretion of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Merino sheep with multibacillary Johne's disease occurred daily. multi-camerate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkam(ə)rət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkæməˌreɪt/ , /ˌməltiˈkæmərət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæməˌreɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæmərət/ , /ˌməltəˈkæməˌreɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈkæmərət/ [ < multi- comb. form + camerate adj.; in quot. 1878 translating German vielkammerig] Zoology rare having several chambers. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [adjective] > having compartments or chambers chambereda1382 cellulara1728 multilocular1754 cellated1832 pigeonholed1848 compartmented1851 multi-camerate1878 multiloculate1890 multiloculated1899 1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 282 The elongated multi-camerate hearts found in some Crustacea. † multicapsular adj. Botany Obsolete rare (of a pericarp) having many capsules. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > seed-vessel or pericarp > [adjective] > of or having capsule bolled1535 bulleda1637 capsulated1646 capsulate1668 bicapsular1686 tricapsular1694 unicapsular1720 multicapsular1731 pyxidated1753 capsular1785 pyxidate1858 1731 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Multicapsular, divided into many partitions, as poppies, flax, &c. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. ii. xxxiii. 155 Reseda, with a multicapsular Fruit. 1793 T. Martyn Lang. Bot. sig. M4 A multicapsular pericarp; or, a fruit of many capsules. † multicarinate adj. Zoology Obsolete rare (of a shell) having many ridges. ΚΠ 1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 778/1 Multicarinate, in Conchology, is applied to a shell which is traversed by many keel-like ridges. 1893 Amer. Naturalist 27 797 The multicarinate carapaces composing the genus Tropidocaris. 1998 Herpetologica 54 18 This new species differs from the type species..in its smaller size,..presence of multicarinate postrostral scales, [etc.]. † multi-carinated adj. Zoology Obsolete rare = multicarinate adj. ΚΠ 1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multi-carinated, having many projections. multiciliate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪlɪət/ , /ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪlɪˌeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪliˌeɪt/ , /ˌməltiˈsɪliət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪliˌeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪliət/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪliˌeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪliət/ Zoology having many cilia. ΚΠ 1891 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 18 80 The spermatozooids too, are different in the two groups, being uniformly bi-ciliate in the liverworts, and multi-ciliate in the ferns. 1932 Amer. Naturalist 66 495 All the other living pteridophytes..have large multiciliate sperms. 1995 C. Nielsen Animal Evol. viii. 54 The tentacles of the hydromedusa Aglantha have a pair of lateral ciliary bands which are formed from multiciliate cells. multiciliated adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪlɪˌeɪtᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪliˌeɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪliˌeɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪliˌeɪdᵻd/ Zoology = multiciliate adj. ΚΠ 1901 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 12 Jan. (Epitome) 8/3 In multiciliated species [of Bacteria]. 1989 Jrnl. Morphol. 199 151 The coronate larva..has a ring of 32 large, multiciliated coronal cells that are used for swimming. 1998 Jrnl. Marine Biol. Assoc. 78 183 Each organ consists of three multiciliated cells, a terminal cell, a duct cell and a nephropore cell. multicipital adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltᵻˈsɪpᵻtl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪpᵻd(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪpᵻd(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪpᵻd(ə)l/ [compare earlier bicipital adj.] Botany (of a root or rhizome) producing many crowns; (also) derived from such a root or rhizome. ΚΠ 1857 A. Gray First Lessons Bot. Gloss. Multicipital, many-headed. 1886 Bot. Gaz. 11 253 Rootstocks thick and short, multicipital, ascending. 1921 Science 25 Feb. 1365/2 The apparently juvenile leaves are borne on multicipital branches of tender age. 1992 Brittonia 44 247 It is placed in the genus Ionactis..on the basis of its crowded, multicipital crown, lack of persistent basal leaves [etc.]. multicistronic adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪsɪsˈtrɒnɪk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌsɪsˈtrɑnɪk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌsɪsˈtrɑnɪk/ , /ˌməltəˌsɪsˈtrɑnɪk/ Molecular Biology = polycistronic adj. ΚΠ 1963 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 50 701 This model also allows for the synthesis of different amounts of enzymes produced by one large multicistronic message. 1990 Nucleic Acids Res. 18 4197/1 Many protein-coding RNAs in trypanosomes are transcribed as long ‘multicistronic’ transcripts that are processed into several distinct mature RNAs. 1998 Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1373 237 The size of this transcript is similar to the coding region of the omcA gene, suggesting that it is not part of a multicistronic operon. † multicoccous adj. [ < multi- comb. form + coccus n. + -ous suffix, after French multicoque (1831)] Botany Obsolete rare (of a fruit) composed of many cocci. ΚΠ 1831 W. Macgillivray tr. A. Richard Elem. Bot. 315 A fruit often raised into ridges, and separating naturally, when ripe, into as many distinct cocca, which open longitudinally..; whence the expressions tricoccous, multicoccous, applied to this kind of fruit. multicorneal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkɔːnɪəl/ , /ˌmʌltɪkɔːˈniːəl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkɔrniəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔrniəl/ , /ˌməltəˈkɔrniəl/ Entomology rare = polymeniscous adj. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > parts of insects > [adjective] > of head > relating to eye > relating to compound eye > having many corneae multicorneal1883 1883 Q. Jrnl. Microsc. Sci. 23 186 The multicorneal (polymeniscous) eye of Insects. multicostate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkɒsteɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkɑˌsteɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɑˌsteɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈkɑˌsteɪt/ Botany (of a leaf) having more than one rib. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > part defined by form or function > ridge channel > [adjective] rivelledOE wrinkled1563 channelled1597 ribbed1597 trisulcated1703 ribby1706 rugose1707 ruminate1800 ruminated1828 striolate?1841 multicostate1849 crested1856 fork-ribbed1858 tricostate1861 bicarinate1872 carinal1872 vallecular1875 carinate1876 bicarinated1880 trisulcate1891 1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §144 Reticulated Venation... I. Unicostate. A single rib or costa in the middle (midrib). II. Multicostate. More than one rib. 1881 Jrnl. Linn. Soc.: Bot. 18 271 Achenia multicostate. 1945 W. O. Howarth & L. G. G. Warne Lowson's Textbk. Bot. (ed. 9) vi. 129 In both types the venation may be unicostate or multicostate, according as there is one chief vein (forming the midrib) or a number of chief veins. 1992 M. Schaffer-Fehre tr. S. Schaal & W. Ziegler Messel iv. 34 In contrast to the multicostate leaves of monocotyledons..which show, at most, simple connections (commissures), the tertiary veins in the Araceae are reticulate. multicuspid adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌspɪd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkəspəd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəspəd/ , /ˌməltəˈkəspəd/ [compare French multicuspide, multicuspidé (1846)] Zoology (esp. of a tooth) having more than two cusps. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > substance or parts of teeth > [adjective] > crown and parts cuspidate1693 coronary1823 multicuspid1838 quadricuspid1839 multicuspidate1841 quadricuspidate1841 cuspidal1867 intracoronal1940 1838 Brit. Ann. & Epitome Progress Sci. 1839 264 Similar multicuspid molares are seen in a fragment of one side of the lower jaw. 1870 H. A. Nicholson Man. Zool. I. v. 58 Minute spherical bodies covered with radiating and multicuspid spines. 1923 Science 15 June 692/2 In Teredo navalis, the denticles..have but a single cusp. In the Teredo morsei group they are multicuspid. 1990 Jrnl. Molluscan Stud. 56 309 Both taxa have multicuspid lateral teeth. multicuspidate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌspᵻdət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌspᵻdeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkəspəˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməltiˈkəspədət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəspəˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəspədət/ , /ˌməltəˈkəspəˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈkəspədət/ Zoology (esp. of a tooth) = multicuspid adj. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > substance or parts of teeth > [adjective] > crown and parts cuspidate1693 coronary1823 multicuspid1838 quadricuspid1839 multicuspidate1841 quadricuspidate1841 cuspidal1867 intracoronal1940 1841 R. Owen in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. III. 298/2 The incisors are always very small, the molars generally multicuspidate. 1896 Science 14 Aug. 184/1 The theory that the complex, multicuspidate, mammalian tooth has been formed by the coalescence of many simple teeth. 1992 M. Schaffer-Fehre tr. S. Schaal & W. Ziegler Messel x. 125 (caption) The individual teeth..illustrate, by their specialization into single or multicuspidate forms of different lengths with tearing, squashing, or cutting functions, the different food specializations of these groups. multicystic adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɪstɪk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪstɪk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪstɪk/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪstɪk/ Pathology consisting of or containing several or numerous cysts; spec. designating or relating to a congenitally dysplastic kidney in which normal parenchyma is virtually replaced by a cluster of cysts. ΚΠ 1936 J. Schwartz in Jrnl. Urol. 35 259 (title) An unusual unilateral multicystic kidney in an infant. 1948 Amer. Jrnl. Dis. Children 76 203 Multicystic kidney..is pathologically unlike polycystic kidney. Multicystic kidney is usually bilateral and results in death of the fetus in utero. 1988 New Eng. Jrnl. Med. 31 Mar. 837/2 Another section shows more clearly the complex multicystic nature of the pelvic mass. 1993 Canad. Jrnl. Physiol. & Pharmacol. 71 247 We have measured the activity of enzymes involved in progestin and androgen biosynthesis in the two types of multicystic ovaries. multidenticulate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪdɛnˈtɪkjᵿlət/ , /ˌmʌltɪdɛnˈtɪkjᵿleɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌdɛnˈtɪkjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌdɛnˈtɪkjələt/ , /ˌməltəˌdɛnˈtɪkjələt/ Zoology having many denticulations; having a finely-toothed margin. ΚΠ 1873 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 13 287 The species of this group have the anterior tibiæ sometimes multidenticulate. 1943 Amer. Midland Naturalist 30 311 Mandible well developed, subtriangular, multidenticulate. 1993 Environmental Biol. Fishes 37 139 The jaws bear several broad multidenticulate teeth. multidigitate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdɪdʒᵻteɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdɪdʒəˌteɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɪdʒəˌteɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈdɪdʒəˌteɪt/ [compare French multidigité (Cuvier Leçons d'Anat. Comparée (1800) I. 318)] Zoology having many digits or finger-like processes. ΚΠ 1849 T. R. Jones in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. IV. 727/2 In all multi-digitate mammalia, such as the Quadrumana, Carnivora, Rodentia, and Edentata. 1899 Science 27 Jan. 136/2 The phylogenetic development of the higher animals, from the many-boned fins of fishes through the multidigitate Dipneusta to the five-toed Batrachians. 1994 Paleobiology 20 276 Genera with elaborate multidigitate apertures declined in taxonomic diversity but not in morphologic diversity. multiflagellate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfladʒᵻlət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈfladʒᵻleɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈflædʒələt/ , /ˌməltiˈflædʒəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈflædʒələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈflædʒəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈflædʒələt/ , /ˌməltəˈflædʒəˌleɪt/ Zoology having many flagella. ΚΠ 1905 New Phytologist 4 143 The absence of intermediate forms between the bi-flagellate or quadri-flagellate type of motile cell and the multi-flagellate type. 1948 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 35 247/1 The zoospores may also be unusually large, bi-, tri-, or multiflagellate. 1992 M. Ingrouille Diversity & Evol. Land Plants 101 In whisk fern..and ginkgo, a multiflagellate sperm is produced with the flagella arranged in a spiral around the pointed end of the rounded cone-like sperm. multiganglionate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɡaŋɡlɪənət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈɡaŋɡlɪəˌneɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɡæŋɡliənət/ , /ˌməltiˈɡæŋɡliəˌneɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡæŋɡliənət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡæŋɡliəˌneɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈɡæŋɡliənət/ , /ˌməltəˈɡæŋɡliəˌneɪt/ Anatomy and Zoology rare having many ganglia. ΚΠ 1877 T. H. Huxley Man. Anat. Invertebrated Animals vi. 263 The posterior part of the multiganglionate cord which surrounds the gullet. multigranulate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɡranjᵿlət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈɡranjᵿleɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɡrænjələt/ , /ˌməltiˈɡrænjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡrænjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡrænjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈɡrænjələt/ , /ˌməltəˈɡrænjəˌleɪt/ rare having many granules or grains. ΚΠ 1860 J. E. Worcester Dict. Eng. Lang. Multigranulate. 1863 Philos. Trans. 1862 (Royal Soc.) 152 759 They are pellucid, and afford no indication of a nucleus, either single or multi-granulate. multigranulated adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɡranjᵿleɪtᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɡrænjəˌleɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡrænjəˌleɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈɡrænjəˌleɪdᵻd/ rare = multigranulate adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΚΠ 1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multi-granulated. multiguttulate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɡʌtjələt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈɡʌtjəleɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɡətʃələt/ , /ˌməltiˈɡətʃəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡətʃələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡətʃəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈɡətʃələt/ , /ˌməltəˈɡətʃəˌleɪt/ Mycology (of a fungal spore or sporidium) having several or many guttules. ΚΠ 1887 W. Phillips Man. Brit. Discomycetes 322 Sporidia multiguttulate. 1896 Bot. Gaz. 21 224 Stylospores oblong, 1-septate, multiguttulate, hyaline. 1976 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 63 310/2 Spores..; contents uniguttulate to multiguttulate. multilaciniate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪləˈsɪnɪət/ , /ˌmʌltɪləˈsɪnɪeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiləˈsɪniət/ , /ˌməltiləˈsɪniˌeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪləˈsɪniət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪləˈsɪniˌeɪt/ , /ˌməltələˈsɪniət/ , /ˌməltələˈsɪniˌeɪt/ Botany rare (of a lichen) having many laciniae. ΚΠ 1871 W. A. Leighton Lichen-flora 90 Evernia furfuracea..dichotomously multi-laciniate. multiliteral adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈlɪt(ə)rəl/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈlɪt(ə)rl̩/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈlɪdərəl/ , /ˌməltiˈlɪtrəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɪdərəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɪtrəl/ , /ˌməltəˈlɪdərəl/ , /ˌməltəˈlɪtrəl/ involving or employing a multiplicity of letters. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [adjective] > relating to expressions > relating to equations > unknown value of > involving certain number of unknown values multiliteral1817 uniliteral1817 1817 H. T. Colebrooke tr. Bhāskara Āchārya in Algebra 227 Analysis by a multiliteral equation. 1956 D. Jones Outl. Eng. Phonetics (ed. 8) 337 Systems which employ more than the minimum number of letters needed to represent a given language effectively and unambiguously may be called ‘multiliteral’. multimacular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmakjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmækjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmækjələr/ , /ˌməltəˈmækjələr/ rare having many maculae. ΚΠ 1856 A. Thomson in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. [134]/2 The germinal vesicle is..multi-macular in the large-yolked ova. multimammate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmamət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmæmət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmæmət/ , /ˌməltəˈmæmət/ [compare French multimamme (1868 in Littré)] Zoology having several pairs of mammae; spec. designating rodents of the genus Mastomys (formerly included in Rattus or Praomys; family Muridae), found throughout most of Africa and having eight to ten pairs of teats, esp. M. natalensis. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > [adjective] > of parts of > having udder(s) or teat(s) teated1637 uddered1652 multimammate1902 the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [adjective] > of other types of mice or rats sigmodont1877 multimammate1902 nude1966 1902 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 9 219 I fail to find any point whatever by which M[us] Hildegardeæ can be distinguished externally from the Machakos member of the multimammate group. 1953 Jrnl. Animal Ecol. 22 217 (title) The mortality, fecundity and intrinsic rate of natural increase of the multimammate mouse, Rattus (Mastomys) natalensis (Smith) in the laboratory. 1984 D. Macdonald Encycl. Mammals II. 662/3 The lassa fever virus of West Africa is transmitted through urine and feces of the Multimammate rat. multinervose adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈnəːvəʊs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈnərˌvoʊs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈnərˌvoʊs/ , /ˌməltəˈnərˌvoʊs/ [ < multi- comb. form + nervose adj., after scientific Latin multinervosus (1850 in the passage translated in quot. 1856)] Entomology rare having several nervures. ΚΠ 1856 W. Clark tr. J. van der Hoeven Handbk. Zool. I. 314 Hippobosca Latr.—Wings parallel, incumbent, obtuse, multinervose. multinodal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈnəʊdl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈnoʊd(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈnoʊd(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈnoʊd(ə)l/ having many nodes. ΚΠ 1839 J. Lindley Introd. Bot. (ed. 3) i. ii. 160 The multinodal cyme offers no fixed rule in the spirals of its nodes. 1902 Biometrika 1 264 These maxima must arise from the mortality curve itself being multinodal. 1979 Cell & Tissue Res. 199 225 Probit frequency analysis, a graphic method for determining whether a population is normally distributed, skewed, or multinodal. 1990 Silvae Geneticae 39 67 Crown form is a visual characteristic having many component traits (branch thickness, branch angle, ramicorns, forks and uninodal/multinodal branch habit). multinodate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈnəʊdət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈnəʊdeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈnoʊdət/ , /ˌməltiˈnoʊˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈnoʊdət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈnoʊˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈnoʊdət/ , /ˌməltəˈnoʊˌdeɪt/ rare = multinodal adj. ΚΠ 1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multinodate, or Multinodous, many-knotted. 1979 Proc. Linn. Soc. New S. Wales 102 194 Most often, on multinodate axes and particularly in large inflorescences, reduction in degree of branching does not occur alone. † multinodous adj. [ < classical Latin multinōdus ( < multi- multi- comb. form + nōdus knot: see node n.) + -ous suffix] Obsolete rare = multinodal adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΚΠ 1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Multinodous, full of Knots. 1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multinodate, or Multinodous, many-knotted). multinodular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈnɒdjᵿlə/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈnɒdʒᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈnɑdʒələr/ , /ˌməltiˈnɑdjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈnɑdʒələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈnɑdjələr/ , /ˌməltəˈnɑdʒələr/ , /ˌməltəˈnɑdjələr/ Medicine characterized by or composed of a number of nodules. ΚΠ 1900 W. A. N. Dorland Amer. Illustr. Med. Dict. 399/2 Multinodular, composed of many nodules. 1924 F. de Quervain Goitre 33 The fourth type is represented by the multinodular goitre with large nodules. 1977 Lancet 14 May 1064/1 Presenting signs and symptoms (i.e., painful multinodular cystic lumps affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues) represent tissue reaction to a foreign substance. 1997 Amer. Jrnl. Surg. Pathol. 21 664 Microscopically, the lesions were relatively circumscribed, often multinodular masses, located in the breast stroma. multinucleolar adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪnjuːklɪˈəʊlə/ , /ˌmʌltɪnjuːˈklɪələ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌn(j)ukliˈoʊlər/ , /ˌməltiˌn(j)uˈkliələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌn(j)ukliˈoʊlər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌn(j)uˈkliələr/ , /ˌməltəˌn(j)ukliˈoʊlər/ , /ˌməltəˌn(j)uˈkliələr/ [ < multi- comb. form + nucleolar adj., after German multinucleolär (L. Auerbach Zur Charakteristik u. Lebensgeschichte der Zellkerne (1874) ii. 92)] Biology having more than one nucleolus. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > substance > cell > cell organelle or contents > [adjective] > having nucleus > having one or many nuclei polynucleated1857 multinuclear1860 quadrinucleate1863 multinucleated1873 polynuclear1876 multinucleate1877 multinucleolar1882 uninuclear1882 uninucleate1885 trinucleate1887 mononucleated1890 polynucleate1894 polymorphonuclear1897 uninucleated1898 mononucleate1901 polymorphonucleate1904 polymorph1906 heterokaryotic1916 1882 Nature 30 Mar. 523 The sixth internodal cell might be multinuclear, with multinucleolar nuclei. 1924 Bot. Gaz. 77 446 Nine hours after irradiation, binucleate cells, giant nuclei, and multinucleolar nuclei were found. 1970 Science 5 June 1239 (caption) High power magnification of (A) demonstrating..multinuclear and multinucleolar cells. multinucleolate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈnjuːklɪələt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈnjuːklɪəˌleɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈn(j)ukliələt/ , /ˌməltiˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈn(j)ukliələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈn(j)ukliələt/ , /ˌməltəˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪt/ = multinucleolar adj. ΚΠ 1880 Amer. Naturalist 14 481 These animals are really multinucleolate Rhizopods. 1994 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 81 146/2 Bi- or multinucleate tapetal cells, often with lobed multinucleolate nuclei. multinucleolated adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈnjuːklɪəˌleɪtᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈn(j)ukliəˌleɪdᵻd/ rare = multinucleolar adj. ΚΠ 1908 N.E.D. at Multi- Multinucleolated. 1957 Science 5 July 28/2 Other cell types had large, multinucleolated nuclei. 1980 Med. Hypotheses 6 1221 The new approach is used in the search for the elusive haemopoietic stem cell and evidence presented to show that this is also a multinucleolated stem cell which..gives rise to a clone of small round cells. multiovular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɒvjᵿlə/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈəʊvjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈoʊvjələr/ , /ˌməltiˈɑvjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈoʊvjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɑvjələr/ Botany and Physiology containing several or many ovules. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > reproductive substances or cells > [adjective] > ovum oval1646 ovarious1730 oviferous1828 ovular1848 ovulary1848 ovuliferous1848 multiovular1849 multiovulate1857 ovigenous1872 moruloid1880 ovuligerous1888 ovoblastic1922 1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §765 Ovary sessile, 3-lobed, 1-celled, multiovular. 1930 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 17 713 Supporters of the opposing view, namely, that the multiovular structure (follicle) has been derived from the uniovular (achene) are not lacking. 1987 Jrnl. Reprod. & Fertility 81 137 Binovular and multiovular follicles (henceforward called polyovular follicles) have been reported sporadically in most mammalian species. multiovulate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɒvjᵿlət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈəʊvjᵿlət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈoʊvjələt/ , /ˌməltiˈɑvjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈoʊvjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɑvjələt/ Botany and Physiology = multiovular adj. ΘΚΠ the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > reproductive substances or cells > [adjective] > ovum oval1646 ovarious1730 oviferous1828 ovular1848 ovulary1848 ovuliferous1848 multiovular1849 multiovulate1857 ovigenous1872 moruloid1880 ovuligerous1888 ovoblastic1922 1857 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Multiovulatus, applied to the cells or compartments of the ovary when they contain a great many ovules: multiovulate. 1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. i. iv. 329 They [sc. ovules] may be very numerous, when it [sc. the ovary] is said to be multi-ovulate or indefinite. 1881 Jrnl. Linn. Soc.: Bot. 18 267 Ovary linear, multiovulate. 1990 Amer. Naturalist 136 167 Any plant species with a multiovulate ovary may exhibit variation in seed number per fruit. † multipaleaceous adj. [ < multi- comb. form + paleaceous adj., after French multipaléacé (1828)] Botany Obsolete rare having numerous paleae. ΚΠ 1831 W. Macgillivray tr. A. Richard Elem. Bot. 184 [The spikelet] may be..multipaleaceous,..as in some species of Uniola. multipennate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɛneɪt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈpɛnət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɛˌneɪt/ , /ˌməltiˈpɛnət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɛˌneɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɛnət/ , /ˌməltəˈpɛˌneɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈpɛnət/ Anatomy and Zoology designating, relating to, or exhibiting an arrangement of fibres in a muscle consisting of a number of pennate groups, typically producing a herringbone effect. ΚΠ 1902 D. J. Cunningham Text-bk. Anat. 314 The deltoid, a coarsely fasciculated, multipennate muscle. 1936 Q. Rev. Biol. 11 199/1 It is largely multipennate in form and arises from the entire medial surface of the coracoid. 1974 D. Webster & M. Webster Compar. Vertebr. Morphol. vi. 117 Such a multipennate muscle, with a great many short muscle fibers, has the greatest strength because of the large number of fibers that can be brought into play. 1992 Arch. Oral Biol. 32 49 NMR spectroscopy..was used to examine the multipennate masseter in six adult men at rest and while performing isometric clenching exercises. multiperforate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpəːf(ə)rət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈpəːfəreɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpərf(ə)rət/ , /ˌməltiˈpərfəˌreɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərf(ə)rət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərfəˌreɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈpərf(ə)rət/ , /ˌməltəˈpərfəˌreɪt/ Botany and Anatomy = multiperforated adj. ΚΠ 1866 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 156 130 It is roughly hourglass-shaped, and has the multiperforate fossa for the seventh nerve exactly in its centre. 1933 Forestry 7 16 The term multiperforate plate has been used in this paper to indicate any vessel membrane which includes more than one perforation. 1960 K. Esau Anat. Seed Plants viii. 80 The multiperforate plates are scalariform if the perforations are elongated and arranged parallel to each other. 1991 Canad. Jrnl. Bot. 69 1557 One Gomphoneis species (G. geitteri) possesses a stigma that is multiperforate. multiperforated adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpəːfəreɪtᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpərfəˌreɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərfəˌreɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈpərfəˌreɪdᵻd/ having more than one perforation, having several perforations. ΚΠ 1928 Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Dict. Eng. Lang. Multiperforated. 1943 Sci. Monthly Dec. 519/1 Cords, spheres and multiperforated cylinders are some of the shapes which have been produced. 1957 Jrnl. Brit. Interplanetary Soc. 16 207 It is for such reasons as these that the more complicated multiperforated charge..has been developed, which can have small propellent thickness between the perforations without reducing the loading density. 1994 Jrnl. Urol. 151 1059 The use of a multiperforated silicone urethral stent is advantageous for the outcome of this operation. multipinnate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɪnᵻt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈpɪneɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɪnᵻt/ , /ˌməltiˈpɪˌneɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪnᵻt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪˌneɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈpɪnᵻt/ , /ˌməltəˈpɪˌneɪt/ [in quot. 1875 translating German vielfach gefiedert (1873)] Botany and Anatomy multiply pinnate, with pinnately arranged components that are themselves pinnate, and so on to increasingly fine detail. ΚΠ 1875 A. W. Bennett & W. T. T. Dyer tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. iii. 195 Whole systems of shoots frequently have the appearance of multipinnate leaves. 1933 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 222 260 The seeds were isolated on the margins of large multipinnate fronds. 1979 Amer. Jrnl. Anat. 154 563 This hypothesis was tested electromyographically in the multipinnate pig masseter by recording simultaneously from several intramuscular sites. 1990 Garden (Royal Hort. Soc.) May 275/1 The foliage is so finely divided that I find it impossible to categorise it as multipinnate or palmate-pinnate. multiporous adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɔːrəs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɔrəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɔrəs/ , /ˌməltəˈpɔrəs/ Botany and Zoology having many pores. ΚΠ 1830 Withering's Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 7) IV. 273 Multiporous Boletus. 1870 Nature 2 June 95/1 The wood or vascular matter of the thin-walled Calamites consists of multiporous cells or vessels. 1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 5 365 Multiporous septula (rosette plates) are produced where the two funicular cords transect the developing wall. 1997 Internat. Jrnl. Insect Morphol. & Embryol. 26 27 Six sensillar types were recognised [in the Queensland fruit fly]: a multiporous double-walled type.., multiporous single-walled types, [etc.]. multiradiate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈreɪdɪət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈreɪdɪeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈreɪdiət/ , /ˌməltiˈreɪdiˌeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪdiət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪdiˌeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈreɪdiət/ , /ˌməltəˈreɪdiˌeɪt/ [compare scientific Latin multiradiata, specific name (1758 in Linnaeus Systema Naturæ (ed. 10) 663)] Botany and Zoology having several or many rays. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > inclination > divergence > [adjective] > characterized by radial divergence > having radiating parts > many or spec. number triradiated1786 octoradiated1828 multiradiated1840 multiradiate1846 triradiate1846 octoradiate1857 triradiala1886 octoradial1890 octoradiant1911 1846 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Zoophytes vii. 113 Cells multiradiate. 1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 105 The acicular structures, which are combined together in various ways to form multiradiate stars. 1995 C. Nielsen Animal Evol. xxxiii. 264 Both the anterior and the posterior ends of the pharynx of other genera may be circular, quadriradiate or multiradiate. multiradiated adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈreɪdɪeɪtᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈreɪdiˌeɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪdiˌeɪdᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈreɪdiˌeɪdᵻd/ rare = multiradiate adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > inclination > divergence > [adjective] > characterized by radial divergence > having radiating parts > many or spec. number triradiated1786 octoradiated1828 multiradiated1840 multiradiate1846 triradiate1846 octoradiate1857 triradiala1886 octoradial1890 octoradiant1911 1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multiradiated, having many rays. multiradicular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪrəˈdɪkjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltirəˈdɪkjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪrəˈdɪkjələr/ , /ˌməltərəˈdɪkjələr/ having several or many radicles or roots; (Medicine) involving many nerve roots. ΚΠ 1819 J. Lindley tr. L.-C. Richard Observ. Struct. Fruits & Seeds 48 Some..botanists..have regarded such tubercles as so many radicles, and have attributed to these genera a multiradicular embryo. 1976 Clin. Orthopaedics No. 115. 68 The importance of a bilateral electromyographic examination is emphasized and the rarity of bilateral or multiradicular findings in simple herniated nucleus pulposus. 1991 Ital. Jrnl. Neurol. Sci. 12 93 The neurological symptoms appeared in two stages. The first, marked by multiradicular impairment, cleared almost completely within a few months. multiresistant adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪrᵻˈzɪst(ə)nt/ , U.S. /ˌməltirəˈzɪst(ə)nt/ , /ˌməltiriˈzɪst(ə)nt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪrəˈzɪst(ə)nt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪriˈzɪst(ə)nt/ , /ˌməltərəˈzɪst(ə)nt/ (of an organism) resistant to various antibiotics or pesticides; (of an infection) caused by such an organism. ΚΠ 1958 Current List Med. Lit. 34 567/3 Findings on a second strain of human M. tuberc. containing multiresistant cells. 1966 Amer. Jrnl. Trop. Med. & Hygiene 15 823/1 The problems posed by the existence of multi-resistant strains of falciparum malaria. 1991 Lancet 5 Jan. 47/1 The susceptibility to 4-quinolones of five multiresistant strains of Salmonella typhimurium..has been evaluated. 1998 P. Lynch Omega i. v. 84 In the whole of Los Angeles County there are only around one hundred cases of multiresistant infections, and a large percentage of those are TB. multisacculate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsakjᵿleɪt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈsakjᵿlət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsækjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltiˈsækjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsækjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsækjələt/ , /ˌməltəˈsækjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈsækjələt/ [in quot. 1878 translating German mehrfach ausgebuchtet (1878)] Zoology rare having several or many sacculi. ΚΠ 1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 272 [In the Hemiptera] the fore-gut, which is frequently multisacculate. multiseptate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɛpteɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɛpˌteɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛpˌteɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈsɛpˌteɪt/ Biology and Medicine having several or many septa or partitions; divided into many chambers. ΚΠ 1857 M. J. Berkeley Introd. Cryptogamic Bot. §199 The filiform multiseptate antheridia. 1897 Bot. Gaz. 23 369 The spores are multiseptate and hyaline. 1966 Amer. Jrnl. Dis. Children 112 600 (title) Multiseptate gallbladder. 1984 Canad. Jrnl. Bot. 62 2561 B. moriformis var. multiseptata Sivanesan, with multiseptate ascospores, is briefly redescribed. 1991 Radiology 179 429 Four months later he had testicular pain and swelling. US [sc. ultrasound] revealed bilateral multiseptate cystic masses. multi-sheeted adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈʃiːtᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈʃidᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈʃidᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈʃidᵻd/ Mathematics consisting of two or more sheets (sheet n.¹ 11). ΚΠ 1947 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 62 488 The function..is to be considered defined on a multi-sheeted surface with branch points at (θ₀, λ₀) and ∞. 1975 New Scientist 20 Nov. 453/3 No approach which uses any kind of statistical averaging will locate a multi-sheeted graph. 1992 New Scientist 28 Mar. 23/3 The linked, multi-sheeted structure of the quantum space-time. † multisiliquose adj. [ < multi- comb. form + classical Latin siliqua a pod (see siliqua n.) + -ose suffix¹] Botany Obsolete = multisiliquous adj. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > seed-vessel or pericarp > [adjective] knoppy1562 multisiliquose1687 vasculiferous1704 pericarpial1809 pericarpic1819 seminal1833 pericarpoidal1890 pericarpal1908 1687 Philos. Trans. 1686–7 (Royal Soc.) 16 287 The Multisiliquose or corniculated Herbs, which after each Flower bear many Pods or horned Seed Vessels. multisiliquous adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɪlᵻkwəs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪləkwəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪləkwəs/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪləkwəs/ [ < multi- comb. form + classical Latin siliqua a pod (see siliqua n.) + -ous suffix] Botany rare having or producing many seed-vessels; also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > seed > seed-vessel or pericarp > [adjective] > of pod or husk > having pod or pods codded1440 shaledc1575 coddy1601 swaddy1611 swabby1659 siliquous1668 podded1682 multisiliquous1690 siliquiferous1693 siliquose1693 hully1727 bisiliquous1731 siliculose1731 snail-seeded1858 1690 L. Plukenet Let. 3 June in J. Ray et al. Philos. Lett. (1718) 231 As for the Sedum parvum acre fore luteo [Sedum acre, Linn.], it is multisiliquous, or multicornous in its Capsule. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) at Corniculate Plants They are also termed Multisiliquous. 1984 G. Grigson Recoll. Mainly of Writers & Artists vi. 28 What I have called the Situation was multiplex, multipolar, or multisiliquous. † multispermous adj. [compare earlier polyspermous adj.] Botany Obsolete rare containing or producing many seeds. ΚΠ 1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. i. iv. 336 The pericarp is..multispermous. multispicular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspɪkjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspɪkjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪkjələr/ , /ˌməltəˈspɪkjələr/ Zoology having many spicules. ΚΠ 1863 Philos. Trans. 1862 (Royal Soc.) 152 827 A portion of the dermal surface.., showing the multispicular network for the support of the dermal membrane. 1902 Proc. Zool. Soc. ii. 210 In one of the two specimens [of sponges] in the collection..there are a few multispicular strands in the otherwise very regular unispicular meshwork. 1993 Ophelia 38 107 The skeletal organization conforms to the species' original description, with multispicular tracts of the ‘nail’ spicules typical of this genus. multispiculate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspɪkjᵿlət/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈspɪkjᵿleɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspɪkjələt/ , /ˌməltiˈspɪkjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪkjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪkjəˌleɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈspɪkjələt/ , /ˌməltəˈspɪkjəˌleɪt/ Zoology = multispicular adj. ΚΠ 1861 Proc. Royal Soc. 11 373 Multispiculate keratose fibre. 1900 Proc. Zool. Soc. 139 The meshes of the reticulum are multispiculate. multispinous adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪnəs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspaɪnəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspaɪnəs/ , /ˌməltəˈspaɪnəs/ [compare scientific Latin multispinosus, specific name (C. de Geer Mém. l'Hist. des Insectes (1773) III. 348)] Zoology rare having many spines. ΚΠ 1852 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Crustacea Pt. I 538 Carapax multispinous. 1902 Amer. Naturalist 36 933 In every multispinous varix one of the spines predominates over the others. 1943 Amer. Midland Naturalist 30 757 As would be expected in a multispinous structure such as this, there is considerable variation in the number and relative size of the spines. multispiral adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪrəl/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪrl̩/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspaɪrəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspaɪrəl/ , /ˌməltəˈspaɪrəl/ chiefly Biology having many spiral coils or convolutions. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > [adjective] > having many (spiral) coils forwrithen1401 multispiral1839 polygyral1885 polycyclic1890 1839 G. B. Sowerby Conchol. Man. 66 Multispiral, applied to a shell when the spire consists of numerous whorls; or to an operculum of numerous volutions. 1848 G. V. Wood Monogr. Crag Mollusca 113 Operculum corneous, circular, and multispiral. 1899 Fortn. Rev. Jan. 122 Arrangements of multi-spiral springs [etc.]. 1958 J. E. Morton Molluscs vii. 143 A multispiral protoconch with a small apex and many whorls denotes a long-swimming larva. 1987 Phytomorphology 37 191 Special water storage cells with multispiral, cellulosic thickenings. multi-stemmed adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈstɛmd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈstɛmd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɛmd/ , /ˌməltəˈstɛmd/ Botany having more than one stem or trunk. ΚΠ 1952 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 39 31 Often..in multi-stemmed individuals, a dull brown heartwood is found. 1977 J. L. Harper Population Biol. Plants vii. 202 These in turn may branch at or below ground level to give a multi-stemmed plant. 1992 Univ. Oxf. Bot. Garden News Autumn 3 A group of fastigate oaks have been planted sufficiently close together so that they will eventually form a multi-stemmed tree. multistriate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈstrʌɪeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈstraɪˌeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈstraɪˌeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈstraɪˌeɪt/ rare marked with several or many streaks. ΚΠ 1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 778/1 Multistriate. 1896 Amer. Naturalist 30 238 Face of upper incisors multistriate. 1995 Brittonia 47 408/2 Young stems subquadrate to multi-striate. multisulcate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsʌlkeɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsəlˌkeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsəlˌkeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈsəlˌkeɪt/ [compare earlier trisulcate adj., unisulcate adj. at uni- comb. form 1a] Zoology having several or many (parallel) grooves or furrows. ΚΠ 1857 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. (1860) Multisulcatus, applied to a shell that is grooved by a multitude of furrows, as the Turritella multisulcata: multisulcate. 1879 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 168 498 Cambala nodulosa... First segment longitudinally multisulcate. 1991 Jrnl. Paleontol. 65 382 A Lower Cambrian calcareous tube-dwelling metazoan(?) known from tri- through multisulcate conchs. † multisulcated adj. [compare earlier bisulcated adj. at bisulc adj. and n. Derivatives, quadrisulcated adj. at quadri- comb. form 1, trisulcated adj. at trisulcate adj. Derivatives] Obsolete rare = multisulcate adj.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΚΠ 1840 B. H. Smart Walker's Crit. Pronouncing Dict. Multisulcated, many-furrowed. multisynaptic adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪsᵻˈnaptɪk/ , U.S. /ˌməltisəˈnæptɪk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪsəˈnæptɪk/ , /ˌməltəsəˈnæptɪk/ Physiology having or involving several synapses. ΚΠ 1950 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 234 529 The multisynaptic pathways efferent to the lateral motor complex. 1962 T. G. Hiebert Abbrev. Basic Med. Physiol. (ed. 4) i. ii. 4 The central synapse may comprise many synapses (multisynaptic reflexes) as a result of internuncial neurons in the pathway of the arc in the CNS. 1987 S. M. Stahl et al. Cognitive Neurochem. vii. 98 The neostriatal complex stands at the headway of a multisynaptic circuit. multitentacular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪtɛnˈtakjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌtɛnˈtækjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌtɛnˈtækjələr/ , /ˌməltəˌtɛnˈtækjələr/ = multitentaculate adj. ΚΠ 1943 R. Bradbury in Famous Fantastic Mysteries Dec. 123/2 It's conscious, sir; but it's not simple. It's multi-tentacular. multitentaculate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪtɛnˈtakjᵿlət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌtɛnˈtækjələt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌtɛnˈtækjələt/ , /ˌməltəˌtɛnˈtækjələt/ Zoology rare having many tentacles. ΚΠ 1846 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Zoophytes 698 Polyps multitentaculate. multiterminal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtəːmᵻnl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtərmənəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtərmənəl/ , /ˌməltəˈtərmənəl/ (esp. of a computer system) having more than one terminal. ΚΠ 1929 Mind 38 533 Terminal systems with one, two, and more than two termini will be distinguished as uniterminal, biterminal and multiterminal respectively. 1976 Design Automation Conf. Proc. 13 427/1 If these multi-terminal nets could be doglegged efficiently, a far more compact routing would be achieved. 1994 H. Weinstein Better Man vii. 67 She..slipped demurely into the seat next to his at the multiterminal computer console. multitrunked adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtrʌŋkt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtrəŋkt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtrəŋkt/ , /ˌməltəˈtrəŋkt/ (of a tree) having more than one trunk. ΚΠ 1958 Ecol. Monogr. 28 136 The presence of multi-trunked trees and cattle fences in the woods suggest past cutting. 1992 Harrowsmith Aug. 72/3 Often multitrunked, it can easily be trained to a single stem simply by removing the competing trunks on the young tree. multitubular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtjuːbjᵿlə/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈtʃuːbjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈt(j)ubjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈt(j)ubjələr/ , /ˌməltəˈt(j)ubjələr/ having many tubes; esp. designating a boiler having many tubes traversing the flame space. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > boiler > [adjective] low pressure1816 tubular-flued1840 multitubular1849 tubulous1860 Field1865 Stirling1889 double-flued1895 the world > space > shape > curvature > curved three-dimensional shape or body > cylinder > [adjective] > of hollow cylindrical form > consisting of or having tubes > having specific number of trifistulary1646 multifistular1728 multitubular1849 bifistular1870 single-tube1904 1849 Morning Post 16 July 3/4 Mr. Wishaw's system [sc. of electric telegraphing]..places the wires entirely under ground, either in his multitubular pipes if under streets, or in a coating of gutta percha if under railways. 1856 Catal. 8th Exhib. Inventions in Jrnl. Soc. Arts 4 App. I. 3/2 Multi-tubular boilers demand a fuller provision [of coal]. 1927 T. Woodhouse Artificial Silk: Manuf. & Uses 15 The multitubular heater receives its heat through steam pipes. 2017 L. Weng & Z. Men in Y. Cheng et al. Multiphase Reactor Engin. vii. 220 The preferred fixed bed reactor type is multitubular with the catalyst placed inside the tubes and cooling medium (water) on the shell sides. multivoltine adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈvɒltʌɪn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈvɔlˌtaɪn/ , /ˌməltiˈvɑlˌtaɪn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɔlˌtaɪn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɑlˌtaɪn/ , /ˌməltəˈvɔlˌtaɪn/ , /ˌməltəˈvɑlˌtaɪn/ [ < multi- comb. form + -voltine (in univoltine n. and adj.); compare bivoltine adj.] Entomology producing several broods or generations in a year. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [adjective] > producing several broods a year (of silkworm) multivoltine1872 1872 J. Geoghegan Silk in India i. 23 In 1866 experiments were tried..with so-called Japan bivoltine and multivoltine seed. 1883 G. Watt Econ. Products India iii. 66 The multivoltine worms are confined chiefly to Bengal, where they produce three chief crops. 1972 Science 12 May 601/2 Most tropical bees..are long-lived and multivoltine. 1997 Jrnl. Insect Physiol. 43 701 The cabbage butterfly, Pieris melete is multivoltine with a pupal summer and winter diapause. b. In general use. multi-armed adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɑːmd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɑrmd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɑrmd/ having more than two arms. ΚΠ 1949 Jrnl. Hist. Ideas 10 146 Plate XV..shows an eleven-headed multi-armed Kuan-yin or goddess of mercy. 1975 R. Geesin Fallables (BNC) 33 The human is thrown immediately into a multi-armed and legged wrestling match with levers. 1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 204/1 The Milky Way..appears to be a multiarmed spiral. multi-branched adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈbrɑːn(t)ʃt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈbran(t)ʃt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈbræn(t)ʃt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈbræn(t)ʃt/ , /ˌməltəˈbræn(t)ʃt/ having many branches (in various senses). ΚΠ 1862 Temple Bar 6 266 The lofty and multi-branched genealogical tree. 1915 Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 2 660 A multi-branched root system was produced. 1964 Economist 12 Dec. 1251/1 California's multi-branched state university. 1991 P. Main in S. Bowman Sci. & Past ix. 162 The whole should be imagined as a huge and intricate multi-branched tree. multicausal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkɔːzl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkɔz(ə)l/ , /ˌməltiˈkɑz(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔz(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɑz(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈkɔz(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈkɑz(ə)l/ having or involving several causes. ΚΠ 1935 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 49 607 Multi-causal explanations would seem to offer a more logical interpretation of his own findings. 1998 N.Y. Mag. 19 Oct. 6/3 The decline of big cities is multicausal. multiconsonantal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪkɒnsəˈnantl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌkɑnsəˈnæn(t)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌkɑnsəˈnæn(t)l/ , /ˌməltəˌkɑnsəˈnæn(t)l/ chiefly Linguistics composed of more than one consonant. ΚΠ 1948 D. Diringer Alphabet ii. 63 They did not employ it [sc. the alphabet] when they could use word-signs or multi-consonantal phonograms. 1976 RAIN No. 15. 5/1 Multi-consonantal signs are frequently..complemented by monoconsonantal signs that record a part of their phonemic value. multi-denominational adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪdᵻnɒmᵻˈneɪʃn̩(ə)l/ , /ˌmʌltɪdᵻnɒmᵻˈneɪʃən(ə)l/ , U.S. /ˌməltidəˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltidiˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪdəˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪdiˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltədəˌnɑməˈneɪʃ(ə)nəl/ consisting of or involving more than one denomination. ΚΠ 1963 Current Anthropol. 4 517/2 The most extraordinary variety of social phenomena: Cargo cults..; the multidenominational multisectanian [sic] aggregates of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam; and so on. 1992 R. MacNeil Burden of Desire iii. 280 The multidenominational funerals service was held in front of the school. multidirectional adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪdᵻˈrɛkʃn̩(ə)l/ , /ˌmʌltɪdᵻˈrɛkʃən(ə)l/ , /ˌmʌltɪdʌɪˈrɛkʃn̩(ə)l/ , /ˌmʌltɪdʌɪˈrɛkʃən(ə)l/ , U.S. /ˌməltidəˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltiˌdaɪˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪdəˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌdaɪˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltədəˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltəˌdaɪˈrɛkʃ(ə)nəl/ extending, pointing, or occurring in multiple directions. ΘΚΠ the world > space > direction > [adjective] > many multivious1656 multidirectional1897 1897 Amer. Math. Monthly 4 123 (title) Multi-directional geometry. 1942 Illuminating Engin. Nomenclature & Photometric Standards (Illuminating Engin. Soc. U.S.) (ASA Z7.1–1942) 27 Multidirectional illumination on a surface is that produced by several separated light sources of relatively small area. It is characterized by the fact that a small opaque object placed near the illuminated surface casts several shadows. 1964 Discovery Oct. 6/2 Control of a vast and complex multi-directional communications network. 1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 23 Feb. 20/2 Joe Sixpack..replaced his old cable system with a multidirectional antenna. multifaced adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfeɪst/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfeɪst/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfeɪst/ , /ˌməltəˈfeɪst/ having multiple faces or aspects. ΚΠ 1821 R. Southey Vision of Judgem. v. 20 Caitiffs, are ye dumb? cried the multifaced Demon in anger. 1885 E. Dannreuther in G. Grove Dict. Music IV. 366 This is the central question, the multifaced problem he set himself to solve. 1969 A. Baraka Black Magic 221 The rewards of love are multifaced. They'll change you are changed and worn and real. 1986 C. P. Lo Appl. Remote Sensing i. 15 The characteristic of the line scanner is the multifaced rotating mirror. multi-figured adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfɪɡəd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfɪɡjərd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfɪɡjərd/ , /ˌməltəˈfɪɡjərd/ Art featuring representations of several figures. ΚΠ 1941 Burlington Mag. Aug. 39/2 Multi-figured, festive scenes were painted, often based on the various sacred writing of Mahayana Buddhism. 1991 Renaissance Q. 44 141 The medium's flexibility enabled the sculptor to experiment with complex, multi-figured compositions. multiflowered adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈflaʊəd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈflaʊərd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈflaʊərd/ , /ˌməltəˈflaʊərd/ bearing many flowers. ΚΠ 1938 New Phytologist 37 120 (caption) A few types of multiflowered P.F. spikelets in L. aurea. 1985 Ecology 66 179 The response of queen bumble bees..to variations in the distribution and abundance of nectar in multiflowered Delphinium nelsonii inflorescences. 1993 B. Cox Coll. Poems 31 Blue pyjamas confront her multi-flowered bath-robe. multifurcate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfəːkeɪt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈfəːkət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfərˌkeɪt/ , /ˌməltiˈfərkət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfərˌkeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfərkət/ , /ˌməltəˈfərˌkeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈfərkət/ forked or branched in multiple directions; also figurative. ΚΠ 1817 J. Bentham Chrestomathia Pt. II 221 Why bifurcate rather than multifurcate? 1863 Philos. Trans. 1862 (Royal Soc.) 152 834 Spinulo-multifurcate hexradiate stellate (Plate XXXVI. fig. 41). 1944 Amer. Midland Naturalist 31 560 Specimens differing..in greater tube diameter and multifurcate rather than dichotomous branching. 1981 New Phytologist 88 387 Dominant among the megaspores from Taff Gorge, are those with multifurcate and bifurcate tipped processes. 1992 E. George For Sake of Elena xxi. 414 Anger, hatred, bitterness, envy. And a terror of abjuring any of them in order to allow her heart to begin to feel the full strength of what had to be a multifurcate grief. multigeminal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdʒɛmᵻnl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdʒɛmən(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdʒɛmən(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈdʒɛmən(ə)l/ designating a multiple birth.Apparently an isolated use. ΚΠ 1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiv. [Oxen of the Sun] 391 Recorded instances of multigeminal..births. multigenerational adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪdʒɛnəˈreɪʃn̩(ə)l/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltəˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃ(ə)nəl/ composed of or containing members of several generations; relating to several generations (in various senses). ΚΠ 1965 Population Stud. 18 339/1 A household headed by an unmarried mother can become ‘multi-generational’ if a daughter, in turn, becomes an unmarried mother. 1972 P. Laslett Househ. & Family in Past Time 7 A high proportion of multigenerational extended families among the remaining Dutch peasantry in the 1950s. 1987 Wilson Libr. Bull. Mar. 33/3 To make your job as system administrator easier, require that frequent multi-generational backups are made. 1996 United Church Observer Jan. 56/1 The charge involves both urban and rural concerns along with an active multi-generational congregation. multihued adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈhjuːd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈhjud/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈhjud/ , /ˌməltəˈhjud/ of many hues or colours. ΚΠ 1806 T. G. Fessenden Orig. Poems (new ed.) 17 The flame cinctur'd, multihu'd arch in the sky. 1894 Catholic World July 484 The drive is glowing with color, the multihued zarapes of the men and rebozos of the women flitting in and out of the palms. 1927 Daily Express 13 July 5/2 The hidden wiring of the multi-hued electric lights. 1994 N. Baker Fermata xiii. 188 She was a woman of twenty or so with lots of thickly wavy multihued fair hair. multijointed adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdʒɔɪntᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdʒɔɪn(t)ᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdʒɔɪn(t)ᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈdʒɔɪn(t)ᵻd/ having more than one joint. ΚΠ 1974 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 275 555 Joint creep phenomena..become particularly important in multi-jointed assemblies. 1980 Brain, Behavior & Evol. 17 291 The long multijointed digits in the lizard. 1992 Byte Dec. 232/1 Servo motors, attached to multijointed flexible wooden arms. multimarbled adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmɑːbld/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmɑrb(ə)ld/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɑrb(ə)ld/ , /ˌməltəˈmɑrb(ə)ld/ poetic rare containing many different kinds of marble. ΚΠ 1901 T. Hardy Poems Past & Present 40 Multimarbled Genova the Proud. † multimonstrous adj. Obsolete rare consisting of many monstrosities. ΚΠ 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 21 Such a multimonstrous maufrey of heteroclytes and quicquidlibets. multi-orgasmic adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪɔːˈɡazmɪk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌɔrˈɡæzmɪk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌɔrˈɡæzmɪk/ , /ˌməltəˌɔrˈɡæzmɪk/ (capable of) having more than one orgasm during an act of sexual intercourse. ΚΠ 1968 R. Kyle Love Lab. (1969) vi. 80 She was frequently multiorgasmic. 1973 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 78 1047 One often finds in the textbooks that the male sets the pace in marital coitus, but nowhere is it mentioned that women are multiorgasmic. 1998 K. Lette Altar Ego xxxvii. 314 Simon told her that he'd discovered a new multi-orgasmic erogenous zone between the G-spot and the cervix. multipeaked adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpiːkt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpikt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpikt/ , /ˌməltəˈpikt/ (designating or relating to graphs and phenomena represented in graphic form) having many peaks. ΚΠ 1958 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. B. 20 177 Multi-peaked service-time distributions are not excluded from our consideration. 1968 V. B. Mountcastle et al. Med. Physiol. (ed. 12) II. lxiv. 1488/2 The multipeaked pattern was observed for units with characteristic frequencies up to about 5,000 cps. 1992 Sci. Amer. May 24/1 Highly assortive mixing can generate a multipeaked epidemic as the infection spreads from the higher- to the lower-risk groups. 1997 Jrnl. Appl. Physics 81 4048 The square cut samples give rise to multipeaked spectra when the external magnetic field is applied in an ‘off-square’ direction. multipersonal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpəːsn̩(ə)l/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈpəːsən(ə)l/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpərs(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpərs(ə)nəl/ , /ˌməltəˈpərs(ə)nəl/ consisting of or involving more than one person; (spec. in Theology) consisting of the three Persons of the Trinity. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > variety > [adjective] > many-sided or having parts > comprising several personalities multipersonal1827 1827 J. Bentham Rationale Judicial Evid. III. vi. iii. 438 For species..of multimedial evidence, we have simple, (composed either of multi-personal alone..or of transcriptural alone), and complex. 1899 C. F. d'Arcy Idealism & Theol. iv. 153 Christianity teaches us to think of God as multipersonal unity. 1935 Theology 30 77 This argument for a multipersonal Deity. 1993 H. Gardner Creating Minds ii. 37 I adopt Csikszentmihalyi's term ‘field’ to describe this congeries of forces, the study of which is fundamentally sociological. Such a multipersonal perspective [etc.]. multipointed adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɔɪntᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɔɪn(t)ᵻd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɔɪn(t)ᵻd/ , /ˌməltəˈpɔɪn(t)ᵻd/ having multiple points. ΚΠ 1902 R. W. Chambers Maids of Paradise vi. 104 He was engaged in constructing a multi-pointed paper star. 1989 Systematic Parasitol. 13 125 The tegumental spines became multi-pointed almost immediately after the definitive host was infected. multipronged adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈprɒŋd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈprɔŋd/ , /ˌməltiˈprɑŋd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɔŋd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɑŋd/ , /ˌməltəˈprɔŋd/ , /ˌməltəˈprɑŋd/ having several prongs; (usually figurative, of an attempt, attack, etc.) taking place on several different fronts at once. ΚΠ 1953 Polit. Sci. Q. 68 384 A multi-pronged attack on the food problem is now under way. 1989 I. Frazier Great Plains v. 81 Professor Marsh..identified the odd, multi-pronged object..as the tail weapon of a stegosaurus. 1995 J. E. Rohde & H. Viswanathan Rural Private Practitioner viii. 146 He provides what the customer wants—quick attention..and a multipronged, (probably hit-and-miss) attempt at cure. multiramified adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈramᵻfʌɪd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈræməˌfaɪd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈræməˌfaɪd/ , /ˌməltəˈræməˌfaɪd/ having many branches or divisions. ΚΠ 1816 T. L. Peacock Headlong Hall i. 3 Any of the last-named multiramified families. 1870 G. Rolleston Forms Animal Life p. lxxxvi [In other Mollusca] a multi-ramified water-vascular system appears to spread itself throughout the body, without becoming directly continuous with the blood-vessels. multireligious adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪrᵻˈlɪdʒəs/ , U.S. /ˌməltirəˈlɪdʒəs/ , /ˌməltiriˈlɪdʒəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪrəˈlɪdʒəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪriˈlɪdʒəs/ , /ˌməltərəˈlɪdʒəs/ belonging or devoted to more than one religion; designating a society, etc., in which more than one religion is significantly represented. ΚΠ 1959 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 53 1258 (advt.) India's multiracial, multireligious, multilingual society cannot but be regarded as evolving new patterns of democracy. 1998 Industry Standard 10 Aug. 36/1 He has a multireligious shrine, the centerpiece of which is a huge photograph of a Buddha statue located in San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden. multisectoral adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɛkt(ə)rəl/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈsɛkt(ə)rl̩/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɛktərəl/ , /ˌməltiˌsɛkˈtɔrəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛktərəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌsɛkˈtɔrəl/ , /ˌməltəˈsɛktərəl/ , /ˌməltəˌsɛkˈtɔrəl/ concerning or involving more than one sector of an industry, economy, etc. ΚΠ 1953 Amer. Econ. Rev. 43 766 Theses in Preparation... An examination of the inflationary process and alternative public policies within the framework of multi-sectoral models. 1991 Community Devel. Jrnl. 26 338 The principal aim of these multisectoral programmes is to make a breakthrough in health development within the context of economic development. multisecular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɛkjᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɛkjələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛkjələr/ , /ˌməltəˈsɛkjələr/ that has existed for many ages; recurring in, or involving many ages. ΚΠ 1922 J. Joyce Ulysses iii. xvii. [Ithaca] 624 The multisecular stability of its primeval basin. 1971 Jrnl. Econ. Hist. 31 169 A subcontinent that..seems to have gone through the same multisecular trends. 1998 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 70 698 A multisecular reconceptualization of the kingship took place [in France] from the late medieval period to the eighteenth century. multisensory adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɛns(ə)ri/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɛnsəri/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɛnsəri/ , /ˌməltəˈsɛnsəri/ involving or using more than one of the five senses. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > [adjective] > of or relating to the senses > two or more bisensory1894 trisensory1894 multisensory1912 intersensory1933 intersensorial1935 multisensual1967 1912 Philos. Rev. 21 715 He [sc. W. Wundt] drops the Herbartian term ‘complication’ for multi-sensory perceptions. 1946 Amer. Jrnl. Mental Deficiency 51 207 Multi-sensory materials, some of which the child has helped make, act as a catalytic agent in accelerating readiness. 1995 Times Educ. Suppl. 10 Feb. 61/1 (advt.) As the Literacy Support Teacher your main duty will be to maintain, enhance and extend the good practice of teaching pupils with difficulties in reading, writing and spelling using a multisensory..approach. multi-spired adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspʌɪəd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspaɪ(ə)rd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspaɪ(ə)rd/ , /ˌməltəˈspaɪ(ə)rd/ having or characterized by several or many spires. ΚΠ 1884 Punch 20 Sept. 141 Vast, multi-spired, thick-roof'd..is London. 1992 Holiday Which? Sept. 177 Further south is a multi-spired Carolingian church. multitalented adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtaləntᵻd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtælən(t)əd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtælən(t)əd/ , /ˌməltəˈtælən(t)əd/ having many skills or talents. ΚΠ 1963 A. Kramish Peaceful Atom iii. xiv. 252 The development of this multitalented individual should begin approximately at the senior level of the university. 1976 Offshore Platforms & Pipelining 188/2 A multitalented crew of either technicians or maintenance personnel visit platforms in the system. 2000 Times 20 Oct. 37/2 He was a multitalented star, loved the world over. multi-taped adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈteɪpt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈteɪpt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈteɪpt/ , /ˌməltəˈteɪpt/ recorded from several magnetic tapes played simultaneously. ΘΚΠ society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > [adjective] > recorded by specific system taped1892 phonographed1897 acoustic1926 acoustical1926 stereophonic1927 monaural1931 multitracked1931 binaural1933 multitrack1935 tape-recorded1951 telediphoned1952 stereo1954 multi-taped1955 monophonic1958 pretaped1958 mono1960 audiotaped1962 multichannel1962 quarter-track1962 Dolby1966 quadraphonic1968 tetraphonic1969 periphonic1970 quad1970 quadrasonic1970 Dolbyized1971 QS1972 Dolbyed1973 premix1977 quadro1977 1955 L. Feather Encycl. Jazz vii. 245 The unique tonal effects obtained from these multi-taped, multi-speed novelties sold many millions of Capitol records. 1962 John o' London's 16 Aug. 162/4 Not all the tracks are multi-taped. multi-timbral adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtambrəl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtæmbrəl/ , /ˌməltiˈtɪmbrəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtæmbrəl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtɪmbrəl/ , /ˌməltəˈtæmbrəl/ , /ˌməltəˈtɪmbrəl/ having many timbres or sounds; spec. designating an electronic musical instrument, etc., capable of producing a number of different sounds simultaneously, polyphonic. ΚΠ 1985 Washington Post (Nexis) 20 Dec. 17 Using digital sequencers to store and play back performances, he creates a multi-timbral ensemble that is bright and sassy. 1986 Keyboard Player Apr. 21/3 The Casio CZ series are multi-timbral and..can play four different monophonic voices at once. 1999 Canad. Musician (Electronic ed.) Apr. Through the years, instruments have become multi-timbral, which means the instrument can respond to more than one MIDI channel at a time, each having a different allocated sound patch. multititular adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtɪtjᵿlə/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈtɪtʃᵿlə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtɪtʃələr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtɪtʃələr/ , /ˌməltəˈtɪtʃələr/ rare having many titles.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΚΠ 1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. Multi-titular. multitribal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtrʌɪbl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtraɪb(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtraɪb(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈtraɪb(ə)l/ of, relating to, or belonging to more than one tribe. ΚΠ 1944 Man 44 16/2 The continent of Africa with peoples of a hundred sorts grouped into thousands of communities grading from wild tribes to multi-tribal states. 1982 Amer. Speech 57 108 The consensus is that their ancestors were part of the groups of Indians who coalesced into small multitribal communities. 1992 Lakota Times (Rapid City, S. Dakota) 5 Aug. b8/1 Multi-tribal students with one-quarter Indian blood. 2. Prefixed to a noun, either with the adjectival sense ‘multiple, manifold’, or with the adverbial sense ‘in many ways or directions’. multibus n. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪbʌs/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌbəs/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌbəs/ , /ˈməltəˌbəs/ Computing a bus architecture that can be used by a number of independent processors and peripheral devices working at different speeds (a proprietary name in the United Kingdom). ΚΠ 1977 IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 24 469/1 A shared random-access memory resource is described which is used within real-time data acquisition and control systems with multiprocessor and multibus organizations. 1981 Computer Design Sept. 183/1 Making Ethernet compatible with the Multibus seemed to be the key to broadening the base of local area networking. 1996 Control & Instrumentation 28 62/2 The mainstream of industrial applications has continued to be served by specialist hardware or by custom-built systems based on the VME or Multibus standards. multicollinearity n. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪkəlɪnɪˈarᵻti/ , U.S. /ˌməltikəˌlɪniˈɛrədi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪkəˌlɪniˈɛrədi/ , /ˌməltəkəˌlɪniˈɛrədi/ Statistics the existence of a perfect or nearly perfect linear correlation between a set of variables when the regression of some dependent variable on them is being investigated; an instance of this. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > probability or statistics > [noun] > variable > relationship between sets of variables correlation1888 regression1895 intercorrelation1901 covariation1925 multicollinearity1934 1934 R. Frisch Statist. Confluence Anal. xi. 75 There exist two or more independent linear relations between the systematic parts of these variates, but..we are not aware of this multicollinearity. 1972 T. H. Wonnacott & R. J. Wonnacott Introd. Statistics for Business & Econ. xiii. 296 Suppose demand for a group of goods is being related to prices and income, with the overall price index being the first independent variable. Suppose aggregate income measured in money terms is the second independent variable. If this is real income multiplied by the same price index, the problem of multicollinearity may become a serious one. 1987 Amer. Econ. Rev. 77 754/2 Both formulations contain strong multicollinearities between time patterns, cumulative integrations, lagged variables, and the intercept. 2000 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 105 1743 Where there is measurement error,..multicollinearity may aggravate any bias in coefficients resulting from measurement error. † multifoetation n. Medicine Obsolete rare pregnancy with more than one fetus or more than two fetuses.Apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries. ΚΠ 1853 R. Dunglison Med. Lexicon (ed. 9) Multifœtation, pregnancy with more than two fœtuses. 1891 New Sydenham Soc. Lexicon Multifoetation, pregnancy with more than one foetus; or, according to some, with more than two foetuses. multi-starrer n. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈstɑːrə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈstɑrər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɑrər/ , /ˌməltəˈstɑrər/ [ < multi- comb. form + starrer n. (see sense 3 at that entry)] Indian English a film having an ensemble cast featuring many star performers. ΚΠ 1976 Times of India 25 Jan. 2/6 (advt.) The Mighty Multi Starrer..Nagin. 1996 B. D. Garga So many Cinemas x. 181 The mainstream cinema was now the playground of the high stake players whose multi-starrer budgets ranged between Rs 150–200 million. 2013 Eastern Eye 19 July 30/2 [Waqt (1965)] was an influential movie that popularised the lost-and-found formula and the multi-starrer. multi-tester n. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪˌtɛstə/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌtɛstər/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌtɛstər/ , /ˈməltəˌtɛstər/ an instrument for carrying out a number of tests; (spec.) a multimeter esp. a small portable one. ΚΠ 1937 Jrnl. Exper. Psychol. 20 302 The Multitester is a portable device for controlling the presentation of any series of twenty paired stimuli... By means of two response keys..the subject attempts to select the ‘correct’ one in each of the series. 1957 Pract. Wireless Nov. 657/1 (advt.) You build a..signal generator and multi-tester. 1992 Family Handyman Jan. 75/1 With your multi-tester set to the Rx1 scale, connect the test probes to the switch terminals. † multitheism n. Obsolete rare polytheism. ΘΚΠ society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > [noun] > polytheism polytheism1613 polydaemonism1699 multitheism1719 1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 345 For..Idolatry, and Multi-theism no People in the World ever went beyond them. 3. Prefixed to a noun forming a compound used attributively with the force of a parasynthetic adjective (occasionally used predicatively, as in quot. 1778 for multifurrow adj. and quot. 1970 for multifont adj. at sense 3b). a. multi-agency adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈeɪdʒənsi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈeɪdʒənsi/ ΚΠ 1956 Internat. Organization 10 250 The limitations imposed by the multi-agency context of foreign aid. 1992 Police Chief Feb. 6/1 The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.., a network of regionally based, multiagency task forces. multi-campus adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkampəs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkæmpəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæmpəs/ , /ˌməltəˈkæmpəs/ ΚΠ 1965 Science 4 June 1278 The university's great position in higher education is attained in a large measure through its multi-campus concept. 1990 Amsterdam News (N.Y.) 24 Mar. 43/3 (advt.) The State University of New York has 29 geographically dispersed State-operated campuses, and is the largest and most diverse multi-campus university in the nation with over 40,000 employees and 186,000 students. multi-clan adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈklan/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈklæn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈklæn/ , /ˌməltəˈklæn/ ΚΠ 1971 Man 6 412 The multi-clan community as a whole would be the political and warring unit—not the individual clans. 1990 Harvard Jrnl. Asiatic Stud. 50 113 An extreme case of a multi-clan village. multi-deck adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdɛk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdɛk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɛk/ , /ˌməltəˈdɛk/ ΚΠ 1955 Times 9 May 18/2 Multi-deck car parks with direct access to the stores. 1998 Indianapolis Star 22 Feb. k8/4 This day-long package on a multideck boat is the most expensive. multi-floor adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈflɔː/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈflɔr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈflɔr/ , /ˌməltəˈflɔr/ ΚΠ 1938 Archit. Rev. 83 118/2 A multifloor scheme was devised which, besides allowing high economy of site area, gave other advantages of even greater moment. 1991 R. Sale Milan 127 The Romanesque lines of the church are masked..by the adjacent multi-floor modern buildings. multi-groove adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɡruːv/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɡruv/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡruv/ , /ˌməltəˈɡruv/ ΚΠ 1864 Daily Tel. 11 Apr. 3/2 The multigroove rifling. multi-link adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈlɪŋk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈlɪŋk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɪŋk/ , /ˌməltəˈlɪŋk/ ΚΠ 1964 Jrnl. Soc. Industr. & Appl. Math. 12 458 The probability of error for a binary multilink signaling communication system. 1996 Observer 31 Mar. 2/2 (advt.) Our independent multilink suspension..is unusual in having five struts. multi-page adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpeɪdʒ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpeɪdʒ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpeɪdʒ/ , /ˌməltəˈpeɪdʒ/ ΚΠ 1948 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 43 463 Reporting forms varied in length..from a multipage form..to a simple registration statement requesting only a name and address. 1995 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 3 July 30 Other sections include a look at setting up multi-page spreadsheets, graphs, formatting and printing. multi-speed adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspiːd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspid/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspid/ , /ˌməltəˈspid/ ΚΠ 1884 Cyclist 13 Feb. 252/1 A new multispeed gearing. 1926 Science 22 Jan. 90/2 Multi-speed cascade induction motors. 1955 L. Feather Encycl. Jazz vii. 245 The unique tonal effects obtained from these multi-taped, multi-speed novelties sold many millions of Capitol records. 1992 Independent 29 Oct. 26/6 The Maastricht treaty already implies a multi-speed Europe in its progress towards a single currency. multi-tube adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtjuːb/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈtʃuːb/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈt(j)ub/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈt(j)ub/ , /ˌməltəˈt(j)ub/ ΚΠ 1920 U.S. Patent 1,342,885 1/1 Various forms of multi-tube vacuum tube amplifiers have been developed. 1924 Chester (Pa.) Times 8 Nov. 11/4 The radio fan with the inexpensive crystal set must be given as much consideration as the multi-tube receiver owner. 1935 Discovery Feb. 43/2 The multi-tube parachute rocket used for the Harz Mountain experiments. 1959 Times 23 Sept. 4 (advt.) The Oldham Pg battery is unique in possessing a patented double-sleeve multi-tube positive plate. 1989 Hydrocarbon Processing Nov. 113/1 The Ballestra multitube film reactor gives top-quality sulfonated products. multi-unit adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈjuːnɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈjunət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈjunət/ , /ˌməltəˈjunət/ ΚΠ 1933 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 28 79 Multiunit plants as a group unquestionably maintained operations on a relatively higher level than did independents. 1978 N.Y. Times 30 Mar. b6/2 (advt.) Calls outside the Primary Area, but within your local calling area, are referred to as Extended Area (or multi-unit) calls. 1995 Bond Buyer (Nexis) 31 July 12 California Housing Finance Agency, multi-unit rental. multi-vane adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈveɪn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈveɪn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈveɪn/ , /ˌməltəˈveɪn/ ΚΠ 1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Multivane. 1963 R. R. A. Higham Handbk. Papermaking ii. 25 Situated in the trough [of the hydrapulper] is a multivane rotor, driven by a vertical shaft. b. multi-activity adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪakˈtɪvᵻti/ , /ˌmʌltɪəkˈtɪvᵻti/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌækˈtɪvᵻdi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌækˈtɪvᵻdi/ involved or engaged in several activities; spec. offering, equipped for, or involving a variety of sporting or leisure activities. ΚΠ 1943 Jrnl. Educ. Sociol. 16 477 Some [consumers'] cooperatives are criticized because their members are able to meet a variety of needs within a well-organized and multi-activity association. 1982 Economist 25 Dec. Survey 13/3 He wants to provide not just room and board for the few but a multi-activity centre for all of Paris. 2000 Daily Tel. 16 Mar. (Connected section) 13/2 ‘Multi-activity’ type software offers children a collection of activities which support different areas of learning. multi-album adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈalbəm/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈælbəm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈælbəm/ (of a recording contract) for or involving the recording of several albums. ΚΠ 1977 Rolling Stone 19 May 23/4 In late 1976, Jeffreys and his new manager, Carole Langer, made a multialbum deal with A & M. 2000 Atlanta Constit. (Electronic ed.) 30 June Arista recording artist Carlos Santana is staying put. The guitarist has signed a long-term, multi-album contract. multiaperture adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈapətʃə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈæpərˌtʃʊ(ə)r/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈæpərˌtʃʊ(ə)r/ having or using several or many apertures. ΚΠ 1959 Proc. IRE 47 63/2 By making use of geometrical variations of the basic toroidal core shape, multiaperture or multipath logic devices can be designed. 1968 New Scientist 15 Feb. 360/2 The elements, called MADs (multiaperture devices), are specially shaped ferrite discs..which act as very fast switches. 1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 655/2 The advantage of multiaperture spectroscopy over fibre spectroscopy is only realized in the faintest objects. multi-axis adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈaksɪs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈæksəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈæksəs/ relating to, capable of, or designating movement about more than one axis. ΚΠ 1962 F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics xiii. 554 (caption) Multiaxis spin test inertial facility. 1992 Professional Engin. Nov. 51/2 The package combines full multi-axis milling and turning operations. 1998 Automotive Engineer Mar. 14/3 A multi-axis arm has been developed..for anthropomorphic dummies. multibeam adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪbiːm/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌbim/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌbim/ , /ˈməltəˌbim/ involving several or many beams of light or other radiation; (spec. in Photography) designating or relating to an autofocus facility which uses more than three light beams to estimate distance. ΚΠ 1952 Jrnl. Optical Soc. Amer. 42 931 (title) A multibeam ophthalmoscope for the study of retinal physiology. 1988 Camera Weekly 19 Mar. 38/1 Autofocus is a common feature on compact cameras today, and systems have evolved from simple infrared reflection measuring devices with two or three simple focusing zones to complex multi beam systems. 1997 Sci. Amer. June 70/1 All the vessels involved used multibeam sonars, the most modern form of instrumentation available for measuring the topography of the ocean bottom. multibed adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈbɛd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈbɛd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈbɛd/ , /ˌməltəˈbɛd/ containing several or many beds (in various senses). ΚΠ 1964 G. L. Cohen What's Wrong with Hospitals? i. 24 To the archetypal American patient of the medical magazines, there is no disgrace in entering a ‘multi-bed ward’. 1985 Science 20 Dec. 1331 (caption) Multibed design.., with a lower bed of inert solid operating at a higher temperature than an upper bed of CaO/CaSO₄. multibody adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈbɒdi/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈbɑdi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈbɑdi/ , /ˌməltəˈbɑdi/ consisting of or involving more than one body; (spec. in Physics and Astronomy) involving interaction between three or more bodies (cf. many-body adj. at many adj., pron., n., and adv. Compounds 2). ΚΠ 1937 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 162 544 It is possible to interpret the effect as involving resonance with a two- or multi-body system instead of just a one-body effect. 1967 Royal Aircraft Establishm. Techn. Rep. No. 67009. 1 Conditions are derived for the nutational stability..for multi-body vehicles [sc. satellites]. 1988 Dynamics & Stability of Syst. 3 26 Many of the results for the two and three bodies generalize to multibody structures and other modifications. 1993 Sci. Fiction Age Jan. 40/1 The being that finally appeared on the viewscreen was a multibody intelligence such as was rarely encountered in League space. multicandidate adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkandᵻdeɪt/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈkandᵻdət/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈkæn(d)əˌdeɪt/ designating or relating to an election contested by more than two candidates; (also) designating an election for a post previously appointed or uncontested. ΚΠ 1959 Midwest Jrnl. Polit. Sci. 3 180 Multi-candidate contests are not limited to the three-cornered race. 1988 Oxf. Today 1 45/3 The reforms include the introduction of competitive, multicandidate (albeit still circumscribed) elections for deputies of soviets, members of party committees and party secretaries. 2000 National Jrnl. (Electronic ed.) 18 Nov. Under a popular-vote system, McCain could run, hoping that in a multicandidate field he might squeak into a runoff. multi-car adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪkɑː/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌkɑr/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌkɑr/ , /ˈməltəˌkɑr/ owning several cars; involving several or many cars. ΚΠ 1962 Economist 11 Aug. 526/1 The proportion of multi-car families is continuing to rise. 1976 J. Wainwright Bastard vii. 91 Mist..happens on motorways, and is the cause of multi-car shunt-ups. 1994 Face Jan. 125/2 That multi-car pile-up is not cartoon fun sparked by a cute survivalist moppet, but murderous evil orchestrated by the spawn of Satan. multichain adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪtʃeɪn/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌtʃeɪn/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌtʃeɪn/ , /ˈməltəˌtʃeɪn/ consisting of or involving multiple chains; (spec. in Chemistry) designating a linear polymer consisting of multiple chains with little network structure, esp. a protein in which two or more peptide chians are joined by non-peptide links. ΚΠ 1948 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. 70 2710/1 These ‘multichain’ polymer molecules are therefore composed of ḇ chains of average length ȳ units each, radiating from the central radical R. 1967 Immunochemistry 4 180 The multi-chain polymer was a very efficient tolerogen. 1992 Jrnl. Industr. Econ. 40 202 Malls will be more similar in certain store types dominated by multichain firms than in store types that are not. 1997 Jrnl. Bacteriol. 179 3154 This activity..presented a multichain pattern of attack of the glucan chains. multi-chip adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtʃɪp/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtʃɪp/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtʃɪp/ , /ˌməltəˈtʃɪp/ Electronics consisting of or using more than one semiconductor chip. ΚΠ 1964 Microelectronics & Reliability 3 84/2 Multi-chip circuits are partially integrated circuits where sections of the entire element are made separately and interconnected by thin leads. 1992 New Scientist 29 Feb. 26/1 In future, several chips may be packaged together on one carrier called a multichip module. multi-choice adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈtʃɔɪs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈtʃɔɪs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈtʃɔɪs/ , /ˌməltəˈtʃɔɪs/ that presents or allows a choice among several options; spec. = multiple-choice adj. ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > [adjective] > type of examination multiple-choice1914 pass-fail1930 multi-choice1950 open book1951 take-home1956 mock1960 the mind > mental capacity > psychology > developmental psychology > acquisition of knowledge > test of mental ability > [adjective] > involving words word association1910 multiple-choice1914 true–false1923 multi-choice1950 cloze1953 1950 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 45 265 A descriptive measure of the distribution of responses in multi-choice situations is defined as a function of the probabilities of the various choices. 1972 Jrnl. Social Psychol. 86 14 The multichoice stimulus display apparatus..afforded observation of five critical Ss simultaneously. 1987 Economist 19 Sept. 40/2 The NEA opposes the rather humiliating multi-choice tests that two states, Texas and Arkansas, have forced on established teachers. 2000 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) (Electronic ed.) 15 Aug. The excerpt from the NCEA equivalent is predominantly algebra and considerably more difficult..than simply multichoice addition and subtraction. multichord adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪkɔːd/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌkɔrd/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌkɔrd/ , /ˈməltəˌkɔrd/ rare (a) having many strings; (b) involving many chords of a circle. ΚΠ a1894 C. Rossetti Divers Worlds (‘The Earth shall tremble’) The multichord Thrilled harp of heaven. 1980 Science 21 Mar. 1303/1 A comparison of power emanation profiles, obtained by Abel inversion of multichord scans with a bolometer, showed central peaking of the emitted power. multicircuit adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsəːkɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsərkət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsərkət/ , /ˌməltəˈsərkət/ supplying or containing several or many electric circuits. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > [adjective] > containing many circuits multicircuit1909 1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Multicircuit, having a multiple circuit..Multicircuit generator, an electric generator, as for the supplying of arc-lights, which is connected with and feeds several parallel circuits. 1969 Jane's Freight Containers 1968–9 536/2 An a.c. drive motor with single and multi-circuit generators built as one unit. 1970 Sci. Amer. Feb. 28/2 A multicircuit chip would have to incorporate logic gates of several different types and all would have to function perfectly. 1996 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 354 863 In the second [scenario] implosions destroy all but one of the countable set of multi-circuit connections in W^u(Γ) ∩ W^s(Γ). multi-city adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɪti/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪdi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪdi/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪdi/ containing or relating to more than one city. ΚΠ 1965 Jrnl. Negro Educ. 34 90 Each community (including, but not limited to, a state, metropolitan area, county, city, town, multi-city unit or multi-county unit) would be encouraged to plan a community program. 1993 Orlando Sentinel 24 May (Mag.) 14/3 Ramsberger..helps find sites for movie and television shoots. She doubles as a one-stop permitting shop for the movie business, eliminating cross-county or multicity jurisdictional problems. multi-class adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈklɑːs/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈklas/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈklæs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈklæs/ , /ˌməltəˈklæs/ having or involving representatives of several classes, esp. social classes. ΚΠ 1931 Amer. Econ. Rev. 21 459 Geneticists say that this curve is rendered probable.., though possibly it might be a multi-class Poissons series. 1961 Guardian 16 June 6/5 The rise of the anonymous, multi-class mass audience. 1988 T. Cubitt Latin Amer. Soc. (BNC) 179 Popular protest movements..are usually multi-class in membership. multi-coil adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkɔɪl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkɔɪl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔɪl/ , /ˌməltəˈkɔɪl/ (of an instrument or technique) employing or involving more than one or more than two coils. ΚΠ 1877 Elem. Lect. Electricity 19 Multi-coil Galvanometer. This is a galvanometer with three distinct coils of wire. 1965 Science 23 July 464/1 (advt.) A compressor-type refrigeration system that works through an efficient multi-coil cooling head. 1981 Geophysics 46 1579 (title) Magnetite mapping with a muticoil airborne electromagnetic system. multi-column adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkɒləm/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkɑləm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɑləm/ , /ˌməltəˈkɑləm/ having or involving multiple columns (in various senses). ΚΠ 1942 A. L. Warren Perceptibility of Lower Case & All Capitals Newspaper Headlines (M.A. thesis, Univ. of Minnesota) Introd. Today the eye is met by a medley of type sizes, arranged in groups of single-column and multi-column hierarchies and dominated by the striking banner headline which carries the main news. 1956 Nature 17 Mar. 509/2 The two- or multi-column process requires flow through a cation and then an ion exchanger. 1990 Washington Journalism Rev. May 48/3 After the sensational wartime typography subsided, multicolumn headlines with many decks remained, and the basic look of American newspapers was set for the next 50 years. multiconductor adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪkənˈdʌktə/ , U.S. /ˌməltikənˈdəktər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪkənˈdəktər/ , /ˌməltəkənˈdəktər/ consisting of or involving more than two electrical conductors. ΚΠ 1931 Trans. Amer. Inst. Electr. Engineers 50 532/1 The theory of traveling waves on multi-conductor systems. 1949 E. W. Kimbark Electr. Transmission Power & Signals iv. 60 The use of sector-shaped conductors in multiconductor cables. 1992 RS Components: Electronic & Electr. Products July 40/1 Multiconductor with Foil Screen Type 2... A range of multi-conductor and drain wire cables with an overall foil screen. multi-country adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌntri/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkəntri/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkəntri/ , /ˌməltəˈkəntri/ involving, including, or encompassing several countries; international. ΚΠ 1950 Econometrica 18 70 A multicountry model which would give a satisfactory explanation of the international transmission of fluctuations in economic activity. 1994 P. Hobbs & M. Algar Free to Travel xiii. 77 A tremendous advantage of multi-country passes is that you pay only once, in Canadian currency. multi-county adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkaʊnti/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkaʊn(t)i/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkaʊn(t)i/ , /ˌməltəˈkaʊn(t)i/ involving, including, or encompassing more than one county. ΚΠ 1938 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 32 315 There is no correlation between turnover and either one-county or multi-county districts. 1960 Daily Tel. 27 Oct. 15/1 A breaking down of engineering units for multi-county motorway construction. 1999 West Briton (Electronic ed.) 25 May Mebyon Kernow..felt Cornwall would not be given a fair chance in a large multi-county constituency. multi-course adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkɔːs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkɔrs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkɔrs/ , /ˌməltəˈkɔrs/ (of a meal) comprising several courses. ΚΠ 1903 Public Opinion 8 Oct. 471/1 The multi-course dinner. 1994 Canad. Geographic July 58/2 We sit down to our Sabbath dinner, an elaborate multi-course affair that begins with sanctification. multicrore adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkrɔː/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkrɔr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkrɔr/ , /ˌməltəˈkrɔr/ South Asian that makes or is worth more than one crore of rupees; see crore n. ΚΠ 1952 Indian Farming June 18/1 (heading) A multi-crore asset. 1983 J. Rizvi Ladakh 10 The multi-crore shawl industry of Srinigar. 2000 Business India (Electronic ed.) 25 June (heading) Yet another multicrore NBFC scam with political links surfaces. multi-currency adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌrənsi/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkərənsi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkərənsi/ , /ˌməltəˈkərənsi/ relating to, dealing with, or usable with the currency of several countries. ΚΠ 1965 Jrnl. Finance 20 162 Proponents of a multi-currency reserve system take an intermediate position. 1992 High Life (Brit. Airways) Nov. 18/1 (advt.) Access to your funds could not be simpler. Your cheque book can be sterling, USS or multi-currency, thus meeting your payment requirements wherever you may live. multi-day adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdeɪ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdeɪ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdeɪ/ , /ˌməltəˈdeɪ/ lasting or staying for several days; applicable to or valid for a period of several days. ΚΠ 1966 Science 13 May 881/3 Entire multi-day conferences have been devoted to the subject. 1973 C. Bonington Next Horizon v. 85 He was not interested in the multi-day epic, or the highly technical rock-climb. 1991 N.Y. Times 24 Nov. v. 3/2 Vail's nonholiday multiday ticket is $259 for seven days. multi-daylight adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdeɪlʌɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdeɪˌlaɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdeɪˌlaɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈdeɪˌlaɪt/ (of a hydraulic press) having three or more platens (and so more than one gap, or daylight, between platens when fully open). ΚΠ 1959 Times 18 June (Suppl.) p. xvi/5 (advt.) Hydraulic presses... Multi-daylight and other special purpose presses. 1998 Wood Base Panels Internat. (Nexis) Apr. 44 The problem with having one multi-daylight press is that however many daylights you have, and however many boards you can produce, they are all more or less the same size. multi-destination adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪdɛstᵻˈneɪʃn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌdɛstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌdɛstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ , /ˌməltəˌdɛstəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ having or involving more than one destination. ΚΠ 1976 Scotsman 24 Dec. 13/6 (advt.) Experts in long distance, multi destination itineraries to Africa, Australia, the Far East and New Zealand. 1991 Intermedia Mar. 35/2 The Arab News exchange was able to inaugurate the principle of a multi-origin, multi-destination system—otherwise known as ‘hot’ switching—round the clock, round the year. multi-diameter adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪdʌɪˈamᵻtə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˌdaɪˈæmədər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˌdaɪˈæmədər/ , /ˌməltəˌdaɪˈæmədər/ Engineering having or adaptable to a variety of diameters. ΚΠ 1918 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 29 Oct. 996/1 A slide valve in said connection, and valve-actuating means comprising a multi-diameter plunger and connections between the plunger cylinders and the boiler providing varying degrees of pressure on the different plunger diameters. 1941 W. H. Atherton Workshop Practice (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 229 Multi-diameter, formed and spherical shaped articles can be produced. 1983 Buck & Hickman Catal. 1983–5 216 A range of multi-diameter drilling and de-burring tools for use on sheet materials. 2008 Backpacker Mar. 117 (advt.) Climashield Neo Combines solid and hollow multi-diameter filaments to provide compressible loft for maximum warmth, comfort and packability. multi-digit adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdɪdʒɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdɪdʒᵻt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɪdʒᵻt/ , /ˌməltəˈdɪdʒᵻt/ containing more than one digit. ΚΠ 1946 A. W. Burks in Moore School Lect. (1985) 90 The addition of multi-digit numbers. 1990 L. Wall & R. L. Schwartz Programming Perl iii. 104 A backslashed multi-digit number such as \\10. multi-disc adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdɪsk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdɪsk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdɪsk/ , /ˌməltəˈdɪsk/ (also multi-disk) (a) consisting of more than one disc; cf. multiple-disc adj. at multiple n. and adj. Compounds 2b; (b) designed to play or use more than one disc at a time, or more than one type of disc. ΚΠ 1912 R. W. A. Brewer Motor Car Construction xi. 132 Magnetic chucks..are admirably adapted for holding the thin rings of a multi-disc clutch. 1990 Radio-Electronics Jan. 45/3 The devices are sometimes referred to as ‘multi-disc players’..but the term ‘multi-disc’ refers not to their ability to accept several discs at once, but to their ability to accommodate several different disc formats. 1991 What Personal Computer Dec. 207/1 Multi-disk option lets you use up to 10 drives at once! 1995 Mod. Woman July 52/2 (advt.) This innovative new product..uses a multidisc tweezer system for hair removal. multi-drop adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈdrɒp/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈdrɑp/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈdrɑp/ , /ˌməltəˈdrɑp/ (a) Computing and Telecommunications designating a single signal route connecting a number of terminals; (b) designating or relating to a route having several or many drop-off points. ΚΠ 1972 J. Martin Introd. Teleprocessing xi. 127 A line with several devices, or drop points is called a multidrop line. There can only be one message traveling at once on a multidrop line. 1988 ICL Techn. Jrnl. May 129 Ethernet is currently specified to operate over a multi-drop coaxial cable bus with baseband signalling. 1989 Motor Transport 14/5 The transport operator who once undertook multidrop work in the high street for many manufacturers or suppliers these days works mainly for or at the command of the retailers. 1997 Eastern Eye 14 Feb. 25/2 (advt.) You must have experience on 7.5 tonne vehicles for multi drop work. You will be delivering from West London to the South of England. multi-electrode adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪᵻˈlɛktrəʊd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiᵻˈlɛkˌtroʊd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪᵻˈlɛkˌtroʊd/ possessing or involving several electrodes; spec. designating a valve in which there are two or more sets of electrodes, associated with separate electron beams, within a single envelope. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > thermionic valve > [adjective] > specific types of valve thoriated1922 bright-emitting1924 multi-electrode1926 variable-mu1930 planar1937 1926 Wireless World 26 May 722/1 (heading) The multi-electrode valve. 1963 B. Fozard Instrumentation Nucl. Reactors viii. 77 These are multi-electrode gas-filled scaling tubes commonly arranged to give, for nuclear particle counting applications, a scaling factor per tube of ten. 1965 Math. in Biol. & Med. (Med. Res. Council) iv. 139 Is it possible to recognize automatically particular waveforms in a single channel of a multi-electrode recording [of an electroencephalogram]? 1996 Jrnl. Neurosci. Methods 70 141 Techniques such as optical recording and multi-electrode arrays makes it possible to record neuronal activities from tens or hundreds of neurons simultaneously. multielectron adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪᵻˈlɛktrɒn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiᵻˈlɛkˌtrɑn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪᵻˈlɛkˌtrɑn/ Physics consisting of or involving more than two electrons. ΚΠ 1952 Physical Rev. 88 1411 (title) The relativistic configuration space formulation of the multi-electron problem. 1963 L. Kerwin Atomic Physics vii. 187 As we start building multielectron atoms starting with hydrogen, the Pauli principle implies an interesting periodicity. 1998 New Scientist 29 Aug. 24/1 Kouwenhoven and his team noticed the effects of the ‘exchange force’, a quantum-mechanical effect seen in real multi-electron atoms. multi-element adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɛlᵻm(ə)nt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɛləmənt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɛləmənt/ composed of several different elements or components. ΚΠ 1954 Science 29 Oct. 703/1 The text proceeds through a discussion of vacuum tubes, multielement vacuum tubes, linear active circuits, [etc.]. 1961 Y. Olsson On Syntax Eng. Verb iv. 85 The ‘genitive’ is a multi-element term for PRE. 1995 Chem. in Brit. Sept. 706/1 (advt.) The first truly simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace system using solid-state detection. multienzyme adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɛnzʌɪm/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɛnˌzaɪm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɛnˌzaɪm/ Biochemistry involving several different enzymes. ΚΠ 1949 M. Dixon (title) Multi-enzyme systems. 1959 A. L. Lehninger in J. L. Oncley et al. Biophysical Sci. xvi. 145/1 A multienzyme sequence of a dozen consecutive reactions..can be expected to occur at very low rates. 1999 Jrnl. Biol. Chem. 274 3941 The enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the mitochondrial matrix are proposed to form a multienzyme complex. multi-faculty adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfakəlti/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfækəlti/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfækəlti/ , /ˌməltəˈfækəlti/ (of an institution of higher education) possessing several faculties. ΘΚΠ society > education > place of education > college or university > [adjective] > types of college or university non-residential1898 co-ordinate1912 multi-faculty1958 1958 Jrnl. Royal Statist. Soc. A. 121 210 University College is a multi-faculty college and our procedure may be different from colleges with a single faculty. 1968 Economist 13 Apr. 42/1 The schools are to be reduced by amalgamation from twelve to six, and each is to be closely associated with a multi-faculty institution of the University of London. 1995 Independent 6 Apr. 7/2 Four multi-faculty colleges with hospital clusters around them. multi-field adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfiːld/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfild/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfild/ , /ˌməltəˈfild/ of, involving, or relating to more than one field of force, branch of study, etc.; (Photography) responding to several different parts of the field of view. ΚΠ 1939 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 33 450 A multi-field examination for ‘junior professional assistants’. 1958 E. H. Carr Socialism in One Country I. v. 215 The substitution of a multi-field system for the current three-field rotation. 1991 Buying Cameras Mar. 49/2 The F-401 uses a different system called multifield metering. It again takes several readings from the picture area and assesses each one. multifile adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪfʌɪl/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌfaɪl/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌfaɪl/ , /ˈməltəˌfaɪl/ Computing of, relating to, or consisting of more than one file. ΚΠ 1970 Ann. Rev. Information Sci. & Technol. 5 176 In multifile searching, one uses information stored on one file to make the decision as to whether or not a record in another file should be selected. 1996 WEBTechniques Aug. 64/1 The multifile find-and-replace function..can be a lifesaver for updating a large Web site when a URL or filename changes. multi-flue adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfluː/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈflu/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈflu/ , /ˌməltəˈflu/ having more than one flue or more than two flues. ΚΠ 1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 121/1 The multiflue boiler of Mr. Booth. 1969 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) A. 265 270 Engineering problems with the single chimney principle—the solution of which has led to the multiflue design. 1991 J. Blair & N. Ramsay Eng. Medieval Industries viii. 202 Single-flue kilns appear in the pre-Conquest period. Double-flue and multi-flue kilns were introduced in the 13th century. multifont adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfɒnt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfɑnt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfɑnt/ , /ˌməltəˈfɑnt/ chiefly Computing relating to or possessing the ability to read or print characters of several different fonts or designs; using several fonts. ΘΚΠ society > communication > reading > reader > [adjective] > type of reading machine multifont1961 1961 Proc. IRE 49 185/2 Extensions of the notions described will result in improved multifont recognition and in gains toward the isolation of the character separation problem. 1970 Computers & Humanities 5 75 The Scan-Data 300 is genuinely multifont. 1986 V. G. Cerf in T. C. Bartee Digital Communications iv. 145 One of the ideas attracting special interest was the integration of text and graphics into compound documents (multifont text and graphics documents). multi-frequency adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfriːkwənsi/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfrikwənsi/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfrikwənsi/ , /ˌməltəˈfrikwənsi/ Electronics capable of receiving, operating across, or generating a range of frequencies. ΚΠ 1911 H. M. Hobart Electr. Propulsion Ships xv. 154 The example may be taken of two components of a multi-frequency generator. 1936 Proc. Royal Soc. 1935–6 A. 153 640 Experiments..dealing with the variation of the reflexion coefficient with time (as distinct from the multi-frequency method used here). 1968 IEEE Trans. Communication Technol. 16 624/1 The Touch-Tone dialing feature offered by the Bell System requires a multifrequency audio oscillator in the subscriber's set. 1991 Compute Nov. 54/2 You need multifrequency monitors to display Super VGA and 8514. multifurrow adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfʌrəʊ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfəroʊ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfəroʊ/ , /ˌməltəˈfəroʊ/ now rare capable of ploughing more than one furrow at a time. ΚΠ 1778 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 11 Sept. 1774 It [sc. an implement] is multifurrow—the number may be increased or decreased at pleasure. a1884 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Suppl. 623/2 Multifurrow Plow, one having several bodies for plowing two or more furrows at once. multigrain adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪɡreɪn/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌɡreɪn/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌɡreɪn/ , /ˈməltəˌɡreɪn/ involving or containing more than one grain; made from more than one type of cereal grain. ΚΠ 1956 Micropaleontology 2 399 (title) A technique for the preparation of multi-grain palynological slides. 1973 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 332 445 There are two major objections to using this single-grain technique for understanding motions in a multi-grain flow on a free bed. 1978 Business Week (Nexis) 30 Oct. 73 Nabisco's research center..is experimenting with multigrain products and new textures and shapes. 1994 Canad. Select Homes Oct. 67/2 To make croutons, cut 5 slices of leftover bread (French, Italian, pumpernickel, sourdough, multigrain..) into cubes. multi-gun adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɡʌn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɡən/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɡən/ , /ˌməltəˈɡən/ consisting of or having multiple guns (in various senses). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > decorating equipment > [adjective] > painting equipment multi-gun1935 society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [adjective] > consisting of several guns multi-gun1935 1935 Discovery Nov. 326/2 Large multi-gun sets for painting factories, bridges, etc. 1936 Aeroplane 1 July 21/2 The interesting points are the invisibility of the numerous guns carried by the multi-gun fighters, [etc.]. 1977 Time 20 June 14/1 Batteries of cannon fired multigun salutes. multihit adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈhɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈhɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈhɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈhɪt/ involving many hits; (Medicine and Biology) involving more than one contributing event or factor; (Baseball) involving more than one base hit. ΚΠ 1946 D. E. Lea Actions of Radiations on Living Cells iii. 71 We shall not discuss in detail the ‘multi-hit’ target theory in which the biological effect is supposed due to the cumulative effect of several ionizing particles separately passing through the target. 1968 H. Harris Nucleus & Cytoplasm ii. 30 The kinetics of the decay of protein synthesis in the presence of actinomycin D are also extremely variable: in some cases the decay curves suggest a simple exponential function;..in others..they have a ‘multi-hit’ character suggesting that more than one event is required to produce a perceptible effect. 1991 Sports Illustr. 3 June 73/1 He had 13 multihit performances in his first 20 games. multi-image adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈɪmɪdʒ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈɪmɪdʒ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈɪmɪdʒ/ Television, Film and Video Recording composed of, employing, or producing multiple or overlapping images. ΚΠ 1962 Punch 17 Jan. 133/3 Technicians..explain..what you can and cannot do with a multi-image lens [in television]. 1969 Focal Encycl. Film & Television Techniques 472/2 Multi-image films make use of expanding and diminishing pictures. 1992 Videomaker Feb. 39/3 Small multi-image stills could be grabbed for each program on an archive videotape. multi-kilo adj. and n. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈkiːləʊ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈkiloʊ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈkiloʊ/ , /ˌməltəˈkiloʊ/ (a) adj. weighing many kilograms; dealing in or relating to amounts that weigh many kilograms; (b) n. (in plural) many kilograms. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > [adjective] > weighing specific amount scrupular1656 sextulary1657 semuncial1887 thousand-pound1898 multi-kilo1971 society > trade and finance > selling > selling or sale of specific things > [adjective] > drug trafficking drug dealing1795 multi-kilo1971 1971 Science 14 May 769 (advt.) Multi-kilo quantities can be shipped immediately from our ample stocks. 1975 Chicago Sun-Times 2 Mar. 24/1 The..policy of pursuing ‘big-time, multi-kilo narcotics traffickers’. 1989 New Scientist 17 June 23/1 (advt.) We are currently producing multikilo quantities of ultra pure phospholipids. 1993 R. Rucker et al. Mondo 2000 (U.K. ed.) 122/2 The multikilos of macerated, steamed, bleached, and pressed trees that accompany most soft- or hardware products. multilanguage adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈlaŋɡwɪdʒ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ , /ˌməltəˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ presented in or involving more than one language. ΚΠ 1946 Public Opinion Q. 10 140 The difficulties of multi-language [film] production are overcome in many instances by having the sound in the form of a commentary changeable as required. 1975 Times 29 Aug. 4/8 A multi-language service in St Peter's Square. 1989 DEC Professional Nov. 24/2 This module supports international order processing through the use of multilanguage invoice documents. 1998 Australian 1 Dec. (Brisbane ed.) (Computer/Gift Suppl.) 4/3 It includes a multilanguage operation that displays prompts in one of four languages. multi-length adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪlɛŋ(k)θ/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌlɛŋθ/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌlɛŋθ/ , /ˈməltəˌlɛŋθ/ Computing designating or involving numbers or data items that are stored over two or more addressable units, allowing for greater precision. ΚΠ 1948 Gloss. Computer Terms (M.I.T. Servomechanisms Lab. Rep. R-138) 7 Multiple-length number, a number that occupies more than one register, used for higher accuracy or for alphabetic information.] 1951 M. V. Wilkes et al. Prepar. Programs for Electronic Digital Computer i. iv. 25 It is hoped that subroutines for performing the following calculations will shortly be included: multilength arithmetic, calculation of hyperbolic functions, solution of algebraic equations, etc. 1972 Nature 28 Apr. 473/2 Alan Barker..has given an effective procedure for finding all the solutions for given k, albeit one that requires multilength computer programs for its practical implementation. 1986 Math. of Computation 47 360 The largest integer allowed by the compiler is 2³⁵ − 1 < 4 × 10¹⁰ and a rather clumsy ad hoc and multi-length arithmetic procedure has to be incorporated into the programs. multi-lens adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈlɛnz/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈlɛnz/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈlɛnz/ , /ˌməltəˈlɛnz/ containing or employing several or many lenses; spec. (of a camera) having more than one compound lens. ΚΠ 1936 Science 15 May 454/2 Lieutenant O. S. Reading..is responsible for the development of the latest type of multi-lens camera. 1986 C. P. Lo Appl. Remote Sensing i. 11 Multiband photography is possible with the use of an array of synchronized cameras..or a multi-lens camera. 1993 Science 20 Aug. 982/3 The multi-lens compound eyes of insects. multilocus adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈləʊkəs/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈloʊkəs/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈloʊkəs/ , /ˌməltəˈloʊkəs/ Genetics of or relating to more than one genetic locus. ΚΠ 1958 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 44 893 A test for a multilocus factor A is provided by the three crosses, A⁴¹ × A¹, A⁴¹ × A², and A¹ × A². 1999 New Scientist 30 Oct. 86/2 (advt.) You will..apply these with methods for multilocus linkage and association analysis of common disease genes. multimachine adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪməˈʃiːn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiməˈʃin/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪməˈʃin/ , /ˌməltəməˈʃin/ involving or relating to more than one machine, esp. more than one computer. ΚΠ 1954 Math. Tables & Other Aids Computation 8 43 (title) Problems arising in the administration of a multi-machine digital computing service. 1960 Times 24 Nov. 2/5 One of the..units in the industry has asked for a man..to take over the responsibility for running a multi-machine mill. 1988 Computer Weekly 14 Apr. 25 (advt.) Perhaps you prefer the idea of a multimachine configuration, that grows with the company. multimegabit adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmɛɡəbɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmɛɡəˌbɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɛɡəˌbɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈmɛɡəˌbɪt/ Computing able to process several million bits per second. ΚΠ 1988 IEEE Trans. Computers Oct. 1235/1 Multimegabit dynamic RAM's have already become reality. 1993 Guardian 1 Dec. i. 19/2 Its new switched multimegabit data service can handle the very large quantities of data needed for multimedia applications on existing fibre optic networks. multimegawatt adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmɛɡəwɒt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmɛɡəˌwɑt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɛɡəˌwɑt/ , /ˌməltəˈmɛɡəˌwɑt/ producing or involving millions of watts. ΚΠ 1971 Sci. Amer. Sept. 44/3 With multimegawatt fast breeders now being constructed in the U.S.S.R. and in western Europe, there appears to be little doubt about their engineering feasibility. 1992 New Scientist 12 Sept. 40/2 I had seen multimegawatt hydro schemes in eastern Canada. multi-metal adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmɛtl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmɛd(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɛd(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈmɛd(ə)l/ composed of or involving more than one metal; (Chemistry) composed of a number of metal atoms. ΚΠ 1964 J. S. Webb et al. Regional Geochem. Reconnaissance in Namwala Concession area, Zambia 2 Our researches..were extended in 1957 to determine the feasibility of multi-metal stream sediment analysis as a basis for regional geochemical survey. 1975 Nature 3 Jan. 8/2 The fact that nitrogenase contains a large number of metal ions lends some credence to the view that a multi-metal centre is responsible for reduction. 1997 J. Williams Money iii. 80/2 The next step was the revival of gold coinage and the creation of a multi-metallic system (gold, silver and often base silver) covering a range of denominations. multi-microphone adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmʌɪkrəfəʊn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/ , /ˌməltəˈmaɪkrəˌfoʊn/ involving the deployment of several microphones in different positions. ΚΠ 1941 B.B.C. Gloss. Broadcasting Terms 19 Multi-microphone technique, method of production in which several microphones, with outputs centralized in a mixer, are used either simultaneously or in succession to reproduce sounds from a single studio or hall. 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio iii. 61 If a close balance is adopted in a multi-microphone mix, artificial ‘echo’ may be added. 1974 Nature 13 Dec. 535/2 In the recording industry it is customary to mix-down multi-microphone recordings onto four-track master tape. multi-mirror adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmɪrə/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmɪrər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɪrər/ , /ˌməltəˈmɪrər/ having or employing several mirrors; (spec. in Astronomy) designating or relating to a telescope in which light is focused on to a focal plane by a number of separate mirrors. ΚΠ 1969 Appl. Optics 8 1119/2 A multi-mirror resonator can be treated as consisting of infinitely extended, plane and parallel aligned mirrors and filled with plane light waves traveling along the resonator axis, perpendicular to the mirrors. 1972 Science 21 July 247/3 New optical telescopes, such as a prototype of a novel multimirror design. 1989 M. Longair in P. Davies New Physics vi. 203/1 Among these is the US National New Technology Telescope (NNTT), which is planned to be of multi-mirror telescope design. 1991 Lighting Dimensions Nov. 9/1 (advt.) Imagine a lighting controller that will run..downlighters, floods, multi-mirror lamps, neon. multi-mission adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmɪʃn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ , /ˌməltəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ Military (frequently of an aircraft) involving, undertaking, or able to carry out more than one mission simultaneously; multi-purpose. ΚΠ 1960 Compilation Papers summarizing Some Recent NASA Res. on Manned Mil. Aircraft (NASA Techn. Rep. TM-X-420) 13 (title) Aerodynamic research relative to variable-sweep multimission aircraft. 1989 Air Pictorial Feb. 49/2 The US Department of State has ordered two Cessna Caravan 1 turboprop utility aircraft to fill a multimission role in its narcotics control. 1996 Times 20 May 5/1 The advanced F22 Stealth fighter is due in operation by 2005 and the multi-mission Joint Strike Fighter by about 2010. multimovement adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈmuːvm(ə)nt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈmuvm(ə)nt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈmuvm(ə)nt/ , /ˌməltəˈmuvm(ə)nt/ consisting of several (musical) movements; involving several (bodily) movements. ΚΠ 1966 Renaissance News 19 267 The use of variation to unite different parts of these multimovement pieces is significant. 1989 Brain 112 997 Coordination for multimovement actions such as speech. 1998 Gramophone Jan. 96/2 Genoveva (1847–9) rather resembles a multi-movement tone-poem for voices and orchestra. multi-parameter adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪpəˈramᵻtə/ , U.S. /ˌməltipəˈræmədər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪpəˈræmədər/ , /ˌməltəpəˈræmədər/ based on or relating to more than one parameter. ΚΠ 1938 Rev. Econ. Stud. 5 150 Good fits obtained from relatively few data and with multi-parameter curves [yield a low measure of validity]. 1989 Weatherwise Dec. 351/1 Get $100.00 off the purchase price..when you trade in your old multi-parameter weather station. 1997 Electronics Times (Nexis) 12 June 67 Up to five parameters can be displayed at one time and two internal logging modes offer multi-parameter logging or a screen save facility. multipart adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪˌpɑːt/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌpɑrt/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌpɑrt/ , /ˈməltəˌpɑrt/ consisting of or having more than one part. ΚΠ 1928 Daily Express 4 May 2/3 The powers given under the Electricity Supply Act of 1926 ‘to introduce what are known as multi-part tariffs, whereby a consumer, who is willing to use energy for a number of purposes, may pay a fixed charge yearly and then pay a low running charge per unit’. 1963 Mil. Affairs 27 123/2 The committee recommended a multi-part amendment to the Constitution. 1990 Managem. Computing Nov. 72/3 People who want multipart stationery and tractor feed for cheques and labels will need an impact technology. multipartisan adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɑːtᵻz(ə)n/ , /ˌmʌltɪpɑːtᵻˈzan/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɑrdəz(ə)n/ , /ˌməltiˈpɑrdəˌzæn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɑrdəz(ə)n/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɑrdəˌzæn/ , /ˌməltəˈpɑrdəz(ə)n/ , /ˌməltəˈpɑrdəˌzæn/ (also multipartizan) of, representing, or composed of members of more than two (political or other) parties; cf. bipartisan adj. ΚΠ 1895 Cent. Mag. Aug. 635/1 Multi-partizan government leads inevitably to greater and more diversified partizanship. 1911 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 5 537 We have simply replaced the bi-partisan system of politics, with what is, in effect, the multi-partisan or Continental group system. 1958 New Statesman 17 May 622/1 Lebanese politicians, assisted by an ingenious constitution, have hitherto been at immense pains to adopt programmes which command multipartisan support. 1991 Parl. Affairs 44 441 Part of the novelty may well be a multi-partisan commitment to constitutional reform. multiperiod adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɪərɪəd/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɪriəd/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪriəd/ , /ˌməltəˈpɪriəd/ involving, characteristic of, or dating from several different periods. ΚΠ 1948 Amer. Econ. Rev. 38 279 The theory of the firm can attempt to be ‘dynamic’ by introducing separate cost and revenue functions for each period within the man's horizon (i.e., multi-period analysis). 1988 Rev. Financial Stud. Summer 175 The sensitivity of asset prices to transition costs in a multiperiod setting. 1993 Shakespeare Bull. Summer 13/3 Costuming was unobtrusively handled in a multi-period manner, with Henry dressed throughout in almost unadorned black. multiphoton adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈfəʊtɒn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈfoʊˌtɑn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈfoʊˌtɑn/ , /ˌməltəˈfoʊˌtɑn/ Physics involving more than one photon. ΚΠ 1965 Science 22 Jan. 385/1 General areas of discussion will be non-linear phenomena..; multiphoton absorption; breakdown in gases..[etc.]. 1998 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 3364/2 Higher collision energies and infrared multiphoton dissociation..produced no other identifiable fragments. multi-pin adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈpɪn/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈpɪn/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈpɪn/ , /ˌməltəˈpɪn/ having more than two electrical connecting pins. ΚΠ 1963 Thorn Electr. Industr. Group Profile 16 Multi-pin electrical connectors. 1989 Which? Sept. 445/2 It's worth going for a TV with a SCART socket—a special multi-pin connector designed to simplify connecting together video equipment. multiplate adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪˌpleɪt/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌpleɪt/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌpleɪt/ , /ˈməltəˌpleɪt/ having or consisting of more than two plates. ΚΠ 1928 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 118 297 K is an adjustable parallel plate condenser..and S represents a multiplate quenched spark gap. 1948 Motor Manual (ed. 33) vii. 121 The multi-plate clutch, in which two sets of metal discs were arranged alternately in sandwich fashion. One set was attached to the driving shaft, and the other..to the driven shaft. 1971 Engineering Apr. 49 (caption) This picture shows the multiplate construction of the differential capacitor probe fitted to the gauging head. 1998 Automotive Engineer Oct. 37/2 Electro-hydraulically controlled, power is distributed between front and rear axles by a multi-plate clutch. multi-platinum adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈplatᵻnəm/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈplatn̩əm/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈplætn̩əm/ , /ˌməltiˈplætnəm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈplætn̩əm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈplætnəm/ , /ˌməltəˈplætn̩əm/ , /ˌməltəˈplætnəm/ designating or relating to a recording which has sold over two million copies (in a particular country); see platinum n. 2. ΚΠ 1980 Washington Post 21 Dec. l 8/3 Producers like Chris Christian and Michael Omartian (who produced the multi-platinum Christopher Cross album on the secular side). 2000 Leicester Mercury (Electronic ed.) 12 Aug. Their explosive debut album K swiftly scaled the album charts, reaching multi platinum status. multiproblem adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈprɒbləm/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈprɑbləm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɑbləm/ , /ˌməltəˈprɑbləm/ characterized by two or more problems or difficulties. ΚΠ 1959 L. L. Geismar & B. Ayres Patterns of Change in Problem Families p. v The Family Centered Project is an effort directed at improving the functioning of multi-problem families. 1985 Computerworld 6 May (Update section) 19/1 A second Darpa project—the battle management system—is..based on a multiperson, multiproblem paradigm. 1994 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 24 Mar. 1/1 The parents of the children who entered placement were highly dysfunctional, multi-problem families. multi-product adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈprɒdʌkt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈprɑdək(t)/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈprɑdək(t)/ , /ˌməltəˈprɑdək(t)/ that contains, manufactures, sells or involves more than one product (in various senses). ΚΠ 1937 Amer. Econ. Rev. 27 630 A physical measure of output of a multiproduct plant is constructed. 1968 M. S. Livingston Particle Physics x. 174 The detailed kinematic analysis of all products of a multi-product interaction can often lead to identification of a resonance state. 1994 Meat Trade Jrnl. 5 May 15/4 Moreover, packs can be single and/or multi-product, with fixed piece count, variable piece count or average piece count. multiprotocol adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈprəʊtəkɒl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈproʊdəˌkɔl/ , /ˌməltiˈproʊdəˌkɑl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈproʊdəˌkɔl/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈproʊdəˌkɑl/ , /ˌməltəˈproʊdəˌkɔl/ , /ˌməltəˈproʊdəˌkɑl/ Computing relating to, involving, or capable of handling more than one networking or data exchange protocol. ΚΠ 1977 Microcomputer '77 Conf. Rec. (IEEE) 5/1 The 2652 USRT is a multi-protocol, programmable synchronous receiver/transmitter. 1991 Macworld Sept. 137/3 Shiva Corporation has introduced the FastPath 5, the latest incarnation of its multiprotocol LocalTalk-to-Ethernet gateway. 1995 Data Communications Internat. Jan. 39/2 Prioritization enables net managers to apportion bandwidth to individual protocols—absolutely critical in multiprotocol environments. multi-range adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈreɪn(d)ʒ/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈreɪndʒ/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈreɪndʒ/ , /ˌməltəˈreɪndʒ/ having more than one range (in various senses). ΚΠ 1908 Proc. Royal Soc. 1907–8 A. 80 344 This instrument had been wound for use as a multirange voltmeter. 1953 Copper in Instrumentation (Copper Devel. Assoc.) ii. 93 In most moving-coil voltmeters only a fraction of the voltage to be measured is impressed on the moving coil itself... A suitable selection of resistance values enables a multi-range instrument to be produced. 1995 Internat. Jrnl. Bank Marketing (Nexis) 13 No. 3. 28 If you were suddenly transported into the middle of a modern multirange retailer..it would be difficult to work out from the design and shopfittings alone which outlet you were in. multi-reflex adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈriːflɛks/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈriˌflɛks/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈriˌflɛks/ , /ˌməltəˈriˌflɛks/ involving more than one reflection or reflex. ΚΠ 1881 Nature 29 Dec. 198/1 Our multireflex arrangement..for creating greater sensitiveness. 1911 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 85 p.v There were also..a multi-reflex arrangement for measuring the angular motion of a mirror. 1994 Muscle Nerve 17 475 Distinct reflex abnormalities indicate lesions at specific sites. Multireflex testing improves the accuracy with which localization can be made. multi-row adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪˌrəʊ/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌroʊ/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌroʊ/ , /ˈməltəˌroʊ/ having or producing more than one row (of something). ΚΠ 1930 Amer. Econ. Rev. 20 121 Today one finds farmers debating the feasibility of the new harvesting devices or the multi-row cultivators primarily in terms of the percentage of grain which might be missed. 1958 Chambers's Techn. Dict. (ed. 3) 996/1 Multi-row radial engine, a radial aero-engine with two or more rows of cylinders. 1971 Power Farming Mar. 11/1 For beans, Herbert had come up with a multi-row harvester which not only reduced the time in the field, but caused less damage. 1989 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 324 183 Temperature changes behind a dense, multi-row shelter belt. multi-site adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsʌɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsaɪt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsaɪt/ , /ˌməltəˈsaɪt/ having or involving more than one site (in various senses). ΚΠ 1958 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 246 375 Curve 1..indicates a non-specific combination at numerous sites. Curves 2 and 3..are concave upwards indicating a similar multi-site combination. 1976 Aviation Week (Nexis) 4 Oct. 14 The Pentagon official said he had discussed this multi-site solution with the armament directors of most of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries. 2000 PrintWeek 25 Feb. 28/2 (advt.) A large, multi-site operation with hundreds of operator and output devices running a mixture of proprietary workflows. † multi-soil adj. Agriculture Obsolete rare having several different types of soil. ΚΠ 1778 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 8 Jan. 1776 A multi-soil Farm. multispecies adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspiːʃɪz/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈspiːʃiːz/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈspiːsɪz/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈspiːsiːz/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspiʃiz/ , /ˌməltiˈspisiz/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspiʃiz/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspisiz/ , /ˌməltəˈspiʃiz/ , /ˌməltəˈspisiz/ of, relating to, or involving several or many species. ΚΠ 1946 Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 73 194 Some taxonomists..separate the complex into several species. The principal exponent of the multi-species viewpoint was Greene. 1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 5 270 A single species population in an axenic culture, or an ecological succession in a multispecies system. 1992 In-Fisherman Feb. 119 (advt.) The no-nonsense layout..and ample storage room are just what the multi-species angler needs to fish all kinds of water in all kinds of weather. multi-spindle adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspɪndl/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspɪnd(ə)l/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɪnd(ə)l/ , /ˌməltəˈspɪnd(ə)l/ chiefly Engineering having more than one spindle. ΚΠ 1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Add. Multi-spindle. 1940 Amer. Jrnl. Bot. 27 557 The multinucleate condition of telophase I introduces a multi-spindle formation in the second meiotic mitosis. 1964 S. Crawford Basic Engin. Processes ix. 224 The multi-spindle machines consist of a series of pillar drills mounted over a common table, thus eliminating the constant tool change associated with the single-spindle machine. 1991 Mech. Engin. Sept. 54/3 Nassar's group hopes to complete the development of a multispindle tool that would simultaneously tighten up to 20 bolts. multisport adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈspɔːt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈspɔrt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈspɔrt/ , /ˌməltəˈspɔrt/ (also multisports) (a) (of a sports centre or ground, etc.) designed or suitable for a variety of sporting activities; (b) (of an athlete, organization, etc.) involved or competing in more than one sport. ΚΠ 1963 Guardian 28 Mar. 13/5 Britain, he believes, has suffered from being the pioneer of mass sports... Continental countries have picked up the basic ideas from Britain, and found it much easier to promote multi-sport centres and activities. 1977 Final Rep. President's Comm. on Olympic Sports (U.S.) I. ii. c. 35/1 Sport development programs in the U.S. are administered and operated by national governing bodies.., multi-sport organizations, and other amateur sports groups. 1994 Leisure Manager Aug. 62/2 The Sports Council has commissioned a project to investigate the effectiveness of this process, using performance tests on a eight-year-old sand-filled synthetic turf multisports pitch. 1997 Indianapolis Star 12 Aug. d5/2 Multi-sport athletes who played quarterback for a Pac-10 school and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars two days apart. multistart adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈstɑːt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈstɑrt/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɑrt/ , /ˌməltəˈstɑrt/ having more than one start; (spec. in Engineering, of a screw or worm) having more than one helical thread. ΚΠ 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 564/1 Multi-start worm, a worm in which two or more helical threads are used in order to obtain a larger pitch and hence a higher velocity ratio of the drive. 1958 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 248 99 It is probable that multi-start spiral gratings are of academic interest only, but single-start spirals offer the possibility of production by ruling on rotating blanks. 1971 B. Scharf Engin. & its Lang. xii. 158 With single-start worms, lead equals pitch, but on multi-start worms, it amounts to pitch × number of starts (i.e. number of thread sections in a plane at right angles to the axis). 1994 Jrnl. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 89 1553/1 This algorithm can be compared to the multistart algorithm used for solving global optimization problems. multistep adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈstɛp/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈstɛp/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈstɛp/ , /ˌməltəˈstɛp/ involving or comprising a number of steps or stages. ΚΠ 1941 Sci. Monthly July 87/2 Such a multi-step relay system yields speech quality equal to or better than that furnished by the usual broadcasting toll wire service. 1951 A. C. Clarke Exploration of Space vi. 57 The multistep rocket with a winged final stage..is used to take material up to the orbit round the Earth. 1978 Dædalus Spring 13 Fundamental research in recombinant DNA is based on a novel ‘technique’—the introduction into a bacterial cell of a segment of foreign DNA by means of a now familiar multistep procedure. 1990 Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) 30 Nov. i. 3/2 A..meeting designed to walk parents through the district's multi-step complaint process. multi-strike adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈstrʌɪk/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈstraɪk/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈstraɪk/ , /ˌməltəˈstraɪk/ (of a typewriter or printer ribbon) capable of being struck by the printing elements many times in the same place before wearing out. ΚΠ 1974 Office Nov. 126/2 Ribbons in cassettes [for a word processor] are clean and easy to change and available in multistrike varieties for original recording or single-strike types for high-quality playback. 1992 Portable Computing 1 20 The multi-strike ribbon holds up for about triple that figure, but you don't get nearly the same print quality. multisubunit adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsʌbjuːnɪt/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsəbˌjunət/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsəbˌjunət/ , /ˌməltəˈsəbˌjunət/ Biochemistry designating or relating to a protein or other macromolecular complex consisting of more than two subunits. ΚΠ 1966 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 56 1273 Proteins which exhibit allosteric effects do seem to share the property of multisubunit makeup and reversible equilibria between the polymeric macromolecules and their subunits. 1989 B. Alberts et al. Molecular Biol. Cell (ed. 2) xii. 712 The phosphorylase kinase of skeletal muscle..is a multisubunit enzyme, but only one of its four subunits actually catalyses the phosphorylation reaction. 2002 Molecular Cell 9 11 A multisubunit ring structure (in this case a homomeric hexamer). multisystem adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈsɪstᵻm/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɪstəm/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈsɪstəm/ , /ˌməltəˈsɪstəm/ of or involving more than one system; compatible with more than one system; (spec. in Medicine) affecting more than one organ system. ΚΠ 1952 Econ. Jrnl. 62 363 They have created a series of hypothetical economic systems... This multi-system analysis forms the central core of the book. 1959 Amer. Jrnl. Med. 27 829 (title) Fabry's disease (angiokeratoma corporis diffusum universale). An unusual syndrome with multisystem involvement and unique skin manifestations. 1983 Austral. Personal Computer Aug. 11/1 It is called a ‘multi-system’ computer because it has no ROM and no fixable language but is instead compatible with more than fifty expansion cards. 1991 Sun (Baltimore) 18 Aug. (Our Maryland section) 40/5 Utilize trauma theory to manage the complicated needs of the multi-system injured patient. 2002 Jrnl. Clin. Gastroenterol. 34 446 Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy is a rare, multisystem disorder. multi-ton adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪtʌn/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌtən/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌtən/ , /ˈməltəˌtən/ freq. hyperbolical that weighs many tons; of a magnitude of many tons; also figurative. ΚΠ 1960 Science 8 Apr. 1020/2 Huge rocket booster vehicles capable of sending multi-ton payloads into space. 1988 F. A. Cotton & G. Wilkinson Adv. Inorg. Chem. (ed. 5) vi. 180 Decoborane(14) has been made on a multiton scale as a rocket fuel. 1993 Wired Mar. (Premiere Issue) 48/1 It makes all the proper sounds:..the multi-ton coffee-grinder racket as the turret slews, the concussive thud of the main gun firing. multi-turn adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪtəːn/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌtərn/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌtərn/ , /ˈməltəˌtərn/ having or requiring more than one turn; designating an electromagnetic coil having more than one turn; (of an electrical device) equipped with a coil of this type. ΚΠ 1927 A. E. Clayton Performance & Design Direct Current Machines iii. 49 Each of these coils may consist of any desired number of turns, i.e. may either be a ‘single-turn coil’ or a ‘multi-turn coil’. 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict 564/1 Multi-turn current transformer, a current transformer in which there are several turns on the primary winding. 1989 A. C. Davies Sci. & Pract. Welding (ed. 9) I. iv. 185 A solenoid is a multi-turn coil of insulated wire wound uniformly on a cylindrical former. 1992 Mech. Products & Tools July 1406/2 Double ended with protruding steel blade for single turn presets and recessed blade for multiturn presets. multivendor adj. Brit. /ˌmʌltɪˈvɛndə/ , /ˌmʌltɪˈvɛndɔː/ , U.S. /ˌməltiˈvɛndər/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɛndər/ , /ˌməltəˈvɛndər/ , /ˌməltiˈvɛnˌdɔr/ , /ˌməlˌtaɪˈvɛnˌdɔr/ , /ˌməltəˈvɛnˌdɔr/ Computing involving or relating to more than one hardware or software supplier or network service provider; (of equipment or software) originating from different suppliers. ΚΠ 1970 Control Engin. June 79 There are..tips for minicomputer buyers on negotiating warranties and on arranging maintenance for a multivendor system. 1988 ICL Techn. Jrnl. 6 101 The first migration steps towards this kind of multi-vendor operation will be the application of individual application services..to interchange files between co-operating systems. 1994 Computing 28 July 24/2 Despite vendors' support of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and other standard management protocols, there is no common method for multivendor tools to talk to each other. multiwire adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltᵻwʌɪə/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌwaɪ(ə)r/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌwaɪ(ə)r/ , /ˈməltəˌwaɪ(ə)r/ Science consisting of, containing, or involving a number of wires, esp. as detectors or transmitters. ΚΠ 1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 564/1 Multiwire antenna, an antenna consisting of a number of horizontal wires in parallel. 1968 Nucl. Instruments & Methods 65 217/1 The number of amplifiers required for the readout of a proportional multiwire chamber. 1981 J. B. Adams in J. H. Mulvey Nature of Matter vii. 158 One multiwire plane only measures one coordinate accurately. 1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 136/1 Geiger counters, nuclear emulsions, and cloud chambers were among the first with scintillation counters, Čerenkov counters, spark chambers..multiwire proportional chambers..and plastic track detectors coming later. multi-word adj. Brit. /ˈmʌltɪwəːd/ , U.S. /ˈməltiˌwərd/ , /ˈməlˌtaɪˌwərd/ , /ˈməltəˌwərd/ chiefly Linguistics (of a noun or lexical item) containing more than one word. ΚΠ 1961 R. B. Long Sentence & its Parts i. 15 Many kinds of words and multi-word units function as adjuncts. 1966 G. N. Leech Eng. in Advertising ii. 22 Idioms are treated as multi-word lexical items. 1990 J. Bishop & M. Waldholz Genome ii. 66 The name quickly would be reduced to RFLPs, given the scientific journals' practice of reducing multi-word nouns to initials. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < comb. form1647
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