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 number3: 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>