multiple

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: mul=ti=ple

CIDE DICTIONARY

multiple, a. [Cf. F. multiple, and E. quadruple, and multiply.].

 Containing more than once, or more than one; consisting of more than one; manifold; repeated many times; having several, or many, parts.  [1913 Webster]

Law of multiple proportion (Chem.), the generalization that when the same elements unite in more than one proportion, forming two or more different compounds, the higher proportions of the elements in such compounds are simple multiples of the lowest proportion, or the proportions are connected by some simple common factor; thus, iron and oxygen unite in the proportions FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, in which compounds, considering the oxygen, 3 and 4 are simple multiplies of 1. Called also the Law of Dalton or Dalton's Law, from its discoverer. -- Multiple algebra, a branch of advanced mathematics that treats of operations upon units compounded of two or more unlike units. -- Multiple conjugation (Biol.), a coalescence of many cells (as where an indefinite number of amœboid cells flow together into a single mass) from which conjugation proper and even fertilization may have been evolved. -- Multiple fruits. (Bot.) See Collective fruit, under Collective. -- Multiple star (Astron.), several stars in close proximity, which appear to form a single system.

multiple, n. 

 A quantity containing another quantity an integral number of times without a remainder.  [1913 Webster]
" A common multiple of two or more numbers contains each of them a number of times exactly; thus, 24 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. The least common multiple is the smallest number that will do this; thus, 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4 (abbreviated LCM)."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

multiple, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 having several or many parts, elements, or individual components.
2 (foll. by pl. noun) many and various.
3 Bot. (of fruit) collective.
--n.
1 a number that may be divided by another a certain number of times without a remainder (56 is a multiple of 7).
2 a multiple shop or store.

Idiom

least (or lowest) common multiple the least quantity that is a multiple of two or more given quantities. multiple-choice (of a question in an examination) accompanied by several possible answers from which the correct one has to be chosen. multiple personality Psychol. the apparent existence of two or more distinct personalities in one individual. multiple sclerosis see SCLEROSIS. multiple shop (or store) Brit. a shop or store with branches in several places. multiple standard see STANDARD. multiple star several stars so close as to seem one, esp. when forming a connected system.

Derivative

multiply adv.

Etymology

F f. LL multiplus f. L (as MULTIPLEX)

THESAURUS

multiple

allotropic, billion, considerable, diversiform, ever so many, full many, heaped-up, heteromorphic, heteromorphous, increase, increased, jillion, manifold, many, metamorphic, metamorphotic, million, multifarious, multifold, multiform, multiphase, multiplex, multiplication, multiplication table, multiplied, multiplier, multiplying, multitudinal, multitudinous, myriad, no few, not a few, numerous, polymorphic, polymorphous, polynomial, proliferation, protean, proteiform, quite some, tables, thousand, very many, zillion

ROGET THESAURUS

multiple

Number

N number, symbol, numeral, figure, cipher, digit, integer, counter, round number, formula, function, series, sum, difference, complement, subtrahend, product, multiplicand, multiplier, multiplicator, coefficient, multiple, dividend, divisor, factor, quotient, submultiple, fraction, rational number, surd, irrational number, transcendental number, mixed number, complex number, complex conjugate, numerator, denominator, decimal, circulating decimal, repetend, common measure, aliquot part, prime number, prime, relative prime, prime factor, prime pair, reciprocal, totient, binary number, octal number, hexadecimal number, permutation, combination, variation, election, ratio, proportion, comparison, progression, arithmetical progression, geometrical progression, harmonical progression, percentage, permilage, figurate numbers, pyramidal numbers, polygonal numbers, power, root, exponent, index, logarithm, antilogarithm, modulus, base, differential, integral, fluxion, fluent, numeral, complementary, divisible, aliquot, reciprocal, prime, relatively prime, fractional, decimal, figurate, incommensurable, proportional, exponential, logarithmic, logometric, differential, fluxional, integral, totitive, positive, negative, rational, irrational, surd, radical, real, complex, imaginary, finite, infinite, impossible, numerically, modulo.

Multitude

N multitude, numerous, numerosity, numerality, multiplicity, profusion, legion, host, great number, large number, round number, enormous number, a quantity, numbers, array, sight, army, sea, galaxy, scores, peck, bushel, shoal, swarm, draught, bevy, cloud, flock, herd, drove, flight, covey, hive, brood, litter, farrow, fry, nest, crowd, lots, all in the world and his wife, greater number, majority, multiplication, multiple, many, several, sundry, divers, various, not a few, Briarean, a hundred, a thousand, a myriad, a million, a quadrillion, a nonillion, a thousand and one, some ten or a dozen, some forty or fifty, half a dozen, half a hundred, very many, full many, ever so many, numerous, numerose, profuse, in profusion, manifold, multiplied, multitudinous, multiple, multinominal, teeming, populous, peopled, crowded, thick, studded, galore, thick coming, many more, more than one can tell, a world of, no end of, no end to, cum multis aliis, thick as hops, thick as hail, plenty as blackberries, numerous as the stars in the firmament, numerous as the sands on the seashore, numerous as the hairs on the head, and what not, and heaven knows what, endless, their name is 'legion', acervatim, en foule, many- headed multitude, numerous as glittering gems of morning dew, vel prece vel pretio, multitude, numerous, numerosity, numerality, multiplicity, profusion, legion, host, great number, large number, round number, enormous number, a quantity, numbers, array, sight, army, sea, galaxy, scores, peck, bushel, shoal, swarm, draught, bevy, cloud, flock, herd, drove, flight, covey, hive, brood, litter, farrow, fry, nest, crowd, lots, all in the world and his wife, greater number, majority, multiplication, multiple, many, several, sundry, divers, various, not a few, Briarean, a hundred, a thousand, a myriad, a million, a quadrillion, a nonillion, a thousand and one, some ten or a dozen, some forty or fifty, half a dozen, half a hundred, very many, full many, ever so many, numerous, numerose, profuse, in profusion, manifold, multiplied, multitudinous, multiple, multinominal, teeming, populous, peopled, crowded, thick, studded, galore, thick coming, many more, more than one can tell, a world of, no end of, no end to, cum multis aliis, thick as hops, thick as hail, plenty as blackberries, numerous as the stars in the firmament, numerous as the sands on the seashore, numerous as the hairs on the head, and what not, and heaven knows what, endless, their name is 'legion', acervatim, en foule, many- headed multitude, numerous as glittering gems of morning dew, vel prece vel pretio.