multiply

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   combine or increase by multiplication

   I managed to multiply my profits.

2. 2
   verb

   combine by multiplication

   multiply 10 by 15

3. 3
   verb

   To increase the amount, degree or number of (something).

   The motives to refuse obedience to government are many and strong ; impunity will multiply and enforce them

4. 4
   verb

   To perform multiplication on (a number).

   when you multiply 3 by 7, you get 21; he multiplied several numbers

5. 5
   verb

   To breed or propagate.

   [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across.[…]Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, and that in several cases these bacteria were dividing and thus, by the perverse arithmetic of biological terminology, multiplying.

6. 6
   verb

   To perform multiplication.

   He had been multiplying, but it occurred to him he needed to resolve the exponents, first.

7. 7
   verb

   To be a factor in a multiplication with (another factor).

   This follows a similar process, counters having to be removed and replaced at each stage of the remaining part of the calculation except the final one, where 2 multiplies 3 to give 6.

8. 8
   noun

   An act or instance of multiplying.

   The extended instruction set may double the speed again if a lot of multiplies and divides are done.

Etymology

From Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicō, from multi (“many”) + plicō (“to fold”). The noun presumably derives from the verb.