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