to increase or cause to increase in number, quantity, or degree - (transitive)
to combine (two numbers or quantities) by multiplication - (intransitive)
to increase in number by reproduction
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mul•ti•ply1 /ˈmʌltəˌplaɪ/USA pronunciation
v., -plied, -ply•ing.
- to find the product (of numbers) by multiplication: [~ + object + and + object]Multiply the length and width.[~ + object + by + object]Multiply the length by the width to get the area.[no object]You made a mistake when you multiplied; you should have divided.
- to increase in number by giving birth to offspring:[no object]Soon the insects multiplied and destroyed all the crops.
- to (cause to) grow in number, etc.;
increase: [no object]Our problems have multiplied under your leadership.[~ + object]The problems are multiplied when we consider the cost overruns.
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