multiply
gb/mˈʌltɪpli/ us/mˈʌltɪpli/
A2
Inglés
~ 9400
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
A2
action
1
do multiplication in mathematics
To do a math step where you find the answer when one number is taken a certain number of times.
Patrón de uso:
to multiply [number] by [number]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes say *"times four by five"* instead of *"multiply four by five"* or simply *"four times five"*. Use *"multiply [number] by [number]"* for the full verb phrase.
Sinónimos
calculate (More general; can mean doing any kind of math, not only multiplication.)
Antónimos
divide (The standard opposite arithmetic operation to multiplication.)
Colocaciones
multiply by ten
|multiply the numbers
|multiply a number by
|multiply fractions
|multiply decimals
|multiply everything out
Temas
math
|education
|science
Ejemplos
- To find the area of the rectangle, multiply the length by the width.
- If you multiply six by eight, you get forty-eight.
- First multiply all the numbers in the top row, then do the same for the bottom row.
- Students were asked to multiply the fractions and simplify the result.
- You need to multiply the result by 100 to get a percentage.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- In class we learn to multiply big numbers.
- The teacher shows us how to multiply three by four.
- You can use a calculator to multiply these two numbers.
- Please multiply ten by five and write the answer.
- We practice how to multiply whole numbers every day.
Verbo
B1
action
2
increase greatly in number or amount
To grow or to make something grow so there is much more of it than before.
Patrón de uso:
to multiply [things/problems/costs] (often: multiply quickly/rapidly)
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the strict math meaning and overuse it in technical contexts. In everyday speech, use this sense when numbers, problems, or other things grow a lot or in many places, not when you are doing a clear math calculation.
Sinónimos
increase (A very common and general word; does not always suggest the strong or repeated growth that "multiply" can imply.)
Antónimos
decrease (Describes numbers, amounts, or problems becoming fewer or smaller, the opposite of multiplying.)
Colocaciones
multiply rapidly
|multiply quickly
|costs have multiplied
|problems multiplied
|risks multiply
|opportunities multiplied
Temas
change
|society
|business
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- As the company grew, its responsibilities multiplied.
- In recent years, housing costs have multiplied in many big cities.
- The challenges multiplied as the deadline approached.
- Rumors multiplied online within a matter of hours.
- Small mistakes can multiply into serious problems over time.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Our expenses have multiplied since we had children.
- The problems multiplied after the manager left.
- Online orders multiplied during the holiday season.
- Her followers multiplied when she started posting videos.
- If we do nothing, these small issues will multiply.
Verbo
technical
B2
action
3
organisms reproduce and increase
For living things like germs, cells, or animals to make more of themselves so there are more and more of them.
Patrón de uso:
to multiply in/on [place]; [organisms] multiply
Error frecuente:
Learners may overuse general verbs like *"grow"* or *"become many"* instead of this more precise scientific verb. Use *"multiply"* in medical or scientific contexts when you talk about germs, cells, or animals producing more of themselves.
Sinónimos
reproduce (A standard biological term; slightly more formal and not limited to fast or large increases in number.)
Antónimos
die out (Describes a group of living things going to zero in number, the opposite of multiplying.)
Colocaciones
bacteria multiply
|cells multiply
|germs multiply
|viruses multiply
|multiply in warm conditions
|multiply rapidly
Temas
biology
|health
|science
|animals
Ejemplos
- Bacteria multiply quickly in warm, moist environments.
- The virus can multiply inside human cells within hours.
- If food is left out of the fridge, germs may multiply on its surface.
- These cells continue to multiply until they form a visible colony.
- In favorable conditions, the insects can multiply at an alarming rate.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Germs multiply when we do not wash our hands.
- In the petri dish, the cells multiply very fast.
- The doctor said the virus can multiply in the lungs.
- Bacteria multiply more slowly in cold places.
- In summer, mosquitoes multiply near still water.
adverb
formal
C1
property
4
in many ways or many times
In many different ways, or many times, often used before words like "injured" or "blessed" to show a large amount.
Patrón de uso:
multiply [past participle/adjective] (e.g. multiply injured)
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think this is the same as the verb *"to multiply"* and try to use it before nouns (e.g. *"a multiply problem"*). In this sense it is an adverb, usually before a past participle: *"multiply injured"*, *"multiply disadvantaged"*.
Sinónimos
many times (More common and direct; does not carry the same formal or literary tone as "multiply".)
Antónimos
once (Indicates a single time or way, contrasting with the idea of "many times" in this sense.)
Colocaciones
multiply injured
|multiply disadvantaged
|multiply taxed
|multiply blessed
Temas
literary
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The policy changes left some families multiply disadvantaged.
- He arrived at the hospital multiply injured after the crash.
- These communities are multiply affected by both pollution and unemployment.
- Women in that group are multiply burdened by work and caregiving duties.
- Refugees are often multiply vulnerable during emergencies.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The man was multiply injured in the accident.
- She is multiply stressed by money, work, and family problems.
- Some students are multiply disadvantaged at school.
- The area is multiply damaged by storms each year.
- These people are multiply affected by poor health and low pay.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
multiply
AFI
GB/mˈʌltɪpli/
US/mˈʌltɪpli/
Sílabas y acento
mul - tiply (2 sílabas)
Stress on 1st syllable (mul)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: multiply
- 3rd Person Singular: multiplies
- Present Participle: multiplying
- Past: multiplied
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
be fruitful and multiply
1/bˈi fɹˈutfəl ˈænd mˈʌltɪpli/
idiom
literary
have many children; increase in number
To have many children and grow in number, often used in a religious or literary context.
Ejemplos
- The phrase "be fruitful and multiply" comes from the Bible.
- He quoted the line "be fruitful and multiply" during the wedding speech.
multiply by
1/mˈʌltɪpli bˈaɪ/
phrasal verb
do multiplication with a second number
To do a math step where one number is used as the main number and another number is used as the "by" number to find the result.
Ejemplos
- To convert meters to centimeters, multiply the length by one hundred.
- You should multiply the total by three to get the final cost.
- In this exercise, multiply each number by itself.