Multiplying

ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪɪŋ

verbmediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

To increase or cause to increase in number or amount by a process of mathematical multiplication; to reproduce or proliferate rapidly.

ˈmʌltɪˌplaɪɪŋ

verbneutralmedium
General

To increase in number or amount.

The rabbits started multiplying at an alarming rate.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're baking cookies. If you 'multiply' the recipe, you make a whole bunch more! It's like adding the same thing over and over.

👶 For kids: Making something bigger or more. Like when you add up the same number many times!

More Examples

2

The company is multiplying its sales team.

3

Multiplying 5 by 3 equals 15.

How It's Used

Mathematics

"Multiplying two numbers yields their product."

Economics

"The company is multiplying its efforts to expand into new markets."

Biology

"Bacteria are constantly multiplying in the culture medium."

Idioms & expressions

Multiply like rabbits

To increase or reproduce very quickly.

"After the policy was implemented, the new stores started to multiply like rabbits."

From Middle English *multiplien*, from Old French *muliplier*, from Latin *multiplicāre* 'to increase, multiply', from *multiplex* 'manyfold'.

Historically used in both mathematical and figurative contexts to denote increase or abundance; found in texts since the 1300s.

Memory tip

Think of many, 'multiply' reminds you of making more.

multiplingmultiplyingg

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written