multiply

¹mul·ti·ply

verb \ˈməl-tə-ˌplī\

mul·ti·pliedmul·ti·ply·ing

Definition of MULTIPLY

transitive verb

1

: to increase in number especially greatly or in multiples : augment

2

a : to find the product of by multiplication <multiply 7 and 8>

b : to use as a multiplicand in multiplication with another number <multiply 7 by 8>

intransitive verb

1

a : to become greater in number : spread

b : breed, propagate

2

: to perform multiplication

Examples of MULTIPLY

1. Complaints about the new procedure soon multiplied.
2. Her responsibilities multiplied when she was promoted.
3. Her responsibilities were multiplied by the promotion.
4. The bacteria multiply rapidly in warm, moist conditions.
5. The teacher taught the children how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Origin of MULTIPLY

Middle English multiplien, from Anglo-French multiplier, from Latin multiplicare, from multiplic-, multiplex multiple

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to MULTIPLY

Synonyms

breed, procreate, propagate, reproduce

Antonyms

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

Related Words

bear, beget, engender, gender, generate, get, have, mother, parent, produce, sire; hatch, spawn

Near Antonyms

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; compress, condense, constrict, contract; cut back, retrench

See Synonym Discussion at increase

Rhymes with MULTIPLY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify

²mul·ti·ply

adverb \-plē\

Definition of MULTIPLY

: in a multiple manner : in several ways <multiply talented children>

First Known Use of MULTIPLY

1881