| multiply | 1. To become greater in number; to become numerous. "When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them." (Gen. Vi. 1) 2. To increase in extent and influence; to spread. "The word of God grew and multiplied." (Acts xii. 24) 3. To increase amount of gold or silver by the arts of alchemy. 1. To increase in number; to make more numerous; to add quantity to. "Impunity will multiply motives to disobedience." (Ames) 2. <mathematics> To add (any given number or quantity) to itself a certain number of times; to find the product of by multiplication; thus 7 multiplied by 8 produces the number 56; to multiply two numbers. See the Note under Multiplication. 3. To increase (the amount of gold or silver) by the arts of alchemy. <machinery> Multiplying gear, gear for increasing speed. Multiplying lens. <optics> See Lens. Origin: F. Multiplier, L. Multiplicare, fr. Multiplex manifold. See Multitude, Complex. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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