Main Entry: mul·ti·plic·i·ty

Pronunciation: \ˌməl-tə-ˈpli-sə-tē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural mul·ti·plic·i·ties

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French multiplicité, from Late Latin multiplicitat-, multiplicitas, from Latin multiplic-, multiplex

Date: 15th century

1 a : the quality or state of being multiple or various b : the number of components in a system (as a multiplet or a group of energy levels)
2 : a great number
3 : the number of times a root of an equation or zero of a function occurs when there is more than one root or zero <the multiplicity of x = 2 for the equation (x − 2)³ = 0 is 3>