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Multiply: meaning, definitions and examples

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multiply

 

[ ˈmʌltɪplaɪ ]

Verb
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

mathematical operation

To combine two or more quantities into one product. It involves the repeated addition of the same number.

Synonyms

multiply by, times, times by.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
multiply

This is a general term used in mathematical contexts to indicate the process of increasing a number by another number. It can be used in both spoken and written forms.

  • When you multiply 3 by 4, you get 12
  • We need to multiply these figures to get our final result
times

Commonly used in spoken language, especially when teaching children or in an informal setting. It simplifies the concept and makes it more understandable for non-experts.

  • Two times three is six
  • She said that four times five equals twenty
times by

Less common and more informal, often used in conversational English. It may sound less formal than 'multiply by'.

  • You need to times it by 2 to get the right answer
  • Can you times 5 by 3 for me?
multiply by

This is used specifically to describe the act of multiplying one number by another. It's often used in instructional or explanatory contexts.

  • To find the area, multiply the length by the width
  • If you multiply 7 by 6, you'll get 42

Examples of usage

  • Can you multiply 5 by 3 for me?
  • She multiplied the number of attendees by the ticket price to calculate the total revenue.
  • We need to multiply the length by the width to find the area of the rectangle.

Translations

Translations of the word "multiply" in other languages:

🇵🇹 multiplicar

🇮🇳 गुणा करना

🇩🇪 multiplizieren

🇮🇩 mengalikan

🇺🇦 множити

🇵🇱 mnożyć

🇯🇵 掛ける (かける)

🇫🇷 multiplier

🇪🇸 multiplicar

🇹🇷 çarpma

🇰🇷 곱하다

🇸🇦 ضرب

🇨🇿 násobit

🇸🇰 násobiť

🇨🇳 乘 (chéng)

🇸🇮 množiti

🇮🇸 margfalda

🇰🇿 көбейту

🇬🇪 გამრავლება

🇦🇿 çoxaltmaq

🇲🇽 multiplicar

Etymology

The word 'multiply' originated from the Latin word 'multiplicare', which means 'to increase' or 'to make many'. It has been used in mathematics for centuries to describe the operation of combining quantities. The concept of multiplication has been fundamental in various civilizations, including the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, who developed their own methods for multiplication. Over time, the symbol '×' became widely used to represent multiplication, making calculations more efficient and standardized.

See also: multiplication, multiplicity, multiplier, multiplying.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #7,966 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.