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Webster 1913 Edition


Multiple

Mul′ti-ple

,
Adj.
[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.
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 amoeboid 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.

Mul′ti-ple

,
Noun.
(Math.)
A quantity containing another quantity an integral number of times without a remainder.
☞ 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
).

Webster 1828 Edition


Multiple

MUL'TIPLE

,
Adj.
[L. multiplex; multus, many, and plico, to fold.]
Containing many times.

MUL'TIPLE

,
Noun.
In arithmetic, a common multiple of two or more numbers contains each of them a certain number of times exactly; thus 24 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. But the least common multiple, is the least number which will do this; thus 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.

Definition 2024


multiple

multiple

See also: múltiple

English

Adjective

multiple (comparative more multiple, superlative most multiple)

  1. Having more than one element, part, component, or function, particularly many.
    • 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:
      Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. [] A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale.
    My Swiss Army knife has multiple blades.
    It was a multiple pregnancy: the woman had triplets.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

multiple (plural multiples)

  1. (mathematics) A whole number that may be divided by another whole number with no remainder.
    • 14, 21 and 70 are multiples of 7
  2. (finance) Price-earnings ratio.
  3. One of a set of the same thing; a duplicate.
  4. A single individual who has multiple personalities.
    • 2010, Ann M. Garvey, Ann's Multiple World of Personality: Regular No Cream, No Sugar
      I had seen its first show when it was a freebie, but I thought it made multiples in general look silly – no one changes clothes THAT much!
    • 2000, Henk Driessen, ‎Ton Otto, Perplexities of identification (page 115)
      Non-abused multiples have no need of doctors, and they have carved out a foothold of their own from where they speak confidently about their utopian vision of a multiple world.
  5. One of a set of siblings produced by a multiple birth.
  6. A chain store.
    • 1979, Management Today (page 96)
      The big advantage such multiples can offer over a purely catalogue operation is that winners can be given shopping vouchers enabling them to choose from goods on display in the multiples' many outlets (Woolworths, for example, has 1,000).

Derived terms

Translations


French

Etymology

From Late Latin multiplus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

multiple m, f (plural multiples)

  1. multiple

Noun

multiple m (plural multiples)

  1. (mathematics) Multiple.

Italian

Adjective

multiple

  1. feminine plural of multiplo

Latin

Adjective

multiple

  1. vocative masculine singular of multiplus

Swedish

Adjective

multiple

  1. absolute definite natural masculine form of multipel.