Multiple
'mʌltɪpəl
Definitions
2 meaningsConsisting of or including many individuals or elements.
'mʌltɪpəl
Consisting of or involving more than one.
The survey revealed multiple reasons for the decline in sales.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a bunch of friends, not just one! 'Multiple' means there are many of something. Like, 'I have multiple toys in my room,' or 'We can choose from multiple flavors of ice cream.'
👶 For kids: More than one!
More Examples
We need to consider multiple perspectives before making a decision.
She has multiple talents, including singing and dancing.
How It's Used
"There are multiple ways to solve this problem."
"The number 12 is a multiple of 3 and 4."
A quantity containing another quantity an exact number of times.
'mʌltɪpəl
A number that contains another number a certain number of times.
15 is a multiple of 3 and 5.
💡 Simply: Imagine counting by a certain number. A 'multiple' is what you get when you keep adding that number. For example, 5, 10, 15, 20... are all multiples of 5.
👶 For kids: A number you get by adding the same number over and over!
More Examples
Find the first three multiples of 7.
This number is a multiple of both 4 and 8.
How It's Used
"20 is a multiple of 5."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
multiple choice
A type of test question where the test-taker is given several options to choose from.
"The exam consisted entirely of multiple-choice questions."
From Latin *multiplex* (many-fold), from *multus* (much, many) + *plex* (fold).
The word 'multiple' has been used since the 15th century, initially in a mathematical context, then expanding to broader applications of 'many' or 'numerous'.
Memory tip
Think of a multi-colored crayon box – there are *multiple* colors!
Word Origin
"many-fold"