multiple

[muhl-tuh-puh l] /ˈmʌl tə pəl/

adjective

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

Electricity.

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

Botany. (of a fruit) collective.

noun

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

12 is a multiple of 3.

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.

Origin

1570-80; < French < Late Latin multiplus manifold. See multi-, duple

Related forms

nonmultiple, adjective, noun

Examples from the web for multiple

Researchers have identified two types of white blood cells that are thought to cause multiple sclerosis by attacking nerve tissue.
Corporate war games, which simulate the interactions of multiple actors in a market, provide a better way to do so.
Twin study surveys genome for cause of multiple sclerosis.
Choosing pieces that can serve multiple functions is a must.
Running multiple operating systems is the way to go when you can't decide which one suits you best.
People with multiple sclerosis should make every effort to preserve their general health.
Some funds of funds focus on single strategies and others pursue multiple strategies.
Give the groups time to conduct research on one of these local issues and identify the multiple perspectives inherent to it.
The results of a couple of the multiple choice questions would worry anyone, however.
Of course, running streaming services to multiple continents isn't a cheap ordeal.

British Dictionary definitions for multiple

multiple

/ˈmʌltɪpəl/

adjective

having or involving more than one part, individual, etc: he had multiple injuries

(electronics, US & Canadian) (of a circuit) having a number of conductors in parallel

noun

the product of a given number or polynomial and any other one: 6 is a multiple of 2

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

short for multiple store

Derived Forms

multiply, adverb

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for multiple

adj.

1640s, "involving many parts," from French multiple (14c.), from Late Latin multiplus "manifold," from Latin multi- "many, much" (see multi-) + -plus "-fold," (see -fold). The noun is from 1680s, in mathematics, from the adjective. Multiple choice as a type of question attested from 1828. Multiple exposure first recorded 1923.

multiple in Science

multiple

(mŭl'tə-pəl)
A number that may be divided by another number with no remainder. For example, 4, 10, and 32 are multiples of 2.