multiple

[muhl-tuh-puhl]

adjective

1. consisting of, having, or involving several or many individuals, parts, elements, relations, etc.; manifold.

2. Electricity.

   1. (of circuits) arranged in parallel.

   2. (of a circuit or circuits) having a number of points at which connection can be made.

3. Botany.,  (of a fruit) collective.

noun

1. Mathematics.,  a number that contains another number an integral number of times without a remainder.

   12 is a multiple of 3.

2. Electricity.,  a group of terminals arranged to make a circuit or group of circuits accessible at a number of points at any one of which connection can be made.

multiple

/ ˈmʌltɪpəl /

adjective

1. having or involving more than one part, individual, etc

   he had multiple injuries

2. electronics (of a circuit) having a number of conductors in parallel

noun

1. the product of a given number or polynomial and any other one

   6 is a multiple of 2

2. telephony an electrical circuit accessible at a number of points to any one of which a connection can be made

3. short for multiple store

multiple

1. A number that may be divided by another number with no remainder. For example, 4, 10, and 32 are multiples of 2.

Other Word Forms

• multiply adverb
• nonmultiple adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of multiple¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from French, from Late Latin multiplus “manifold”; multi-

Word History and Origins

Origin of multiple¹

C17: via French from Late Latin multiplus, from Latin _multiplex

Example Sentences

In addition to a gunshot wound to the chest, Vargas suffered multiple blunt-force injuries and showed signs of strangulation.

From Los Angeles Times

Some experts noted the improvements could be explained at least in part by what’s known as “practice effect,” meaning that participants became better at cognitive testing with multiple screenings.

From Los Angeles Times

ICE didn’t respond to my multiple questions about its commercial — where it’s airing, how much is it costing taxpayers and why they made an ad specifically tailored to law enforcement in the first place.

From Los Angeles Times

Pulte has pointed to a case from 2016 in which a California woman was found guilty of obtaining multiple loans for condos that she falsely stated would be her primary residence.

From Salon

Again by the end of another fruitful season, she was packing her bags and Batlle y Font was receiving enquiries from multiple clubs in Europe.

From BBC

Related Words

• different 
• numerous 
• various