multiply
UK/'mʌltiplai/US
IELTSTOEFLGREB2
Definitions
v.
To add a number to itself a given number of times; to perform multiplication
乘，相乘
v.
To increase greatly in number; to reproduce or breed
大量增加；繁殖，增殖
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmulti- (many) + ply (the French-worn form of plic, "fold") = "many folds." Fold a strip of paper over many times and the layers stack up fast — that piling-up is multiplying. Mathematically, multiplying is just repeated folding-in of a quantity; biologically, things multiply by folding out copy after copy.
Root plic still carries 55 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.multiply by乘以
- 2.multiply rapidly迅速增殖
- 3.multiply the number把数字相乘
Example Sentences
- 1.
Multiply six by seven and you get forty-two.
- 2.
Rabbits multiply quickly when food is plentiful.
- 3.
Her problems seemed to multiply overnight.