multiple

More than one (followed by plural). [from late 20th c.]

Adjective

  1. Having more than one element, part, component, or function, having more than one instance, occurring more than once, usually contrary to expectations (can be followed by a singular).
    • Some states do explicitly prohibit multiple citizenship.
    • It was a multiple pregnancy: the woman had triplets.
    • Multiple registrations are an increasing problem for many social networking sites.

    1. (multiplicity) Of a person: displaying or experiencing two or more distinct personalities or selves in one body.

      • While being multiple can cause complexity to people’s lives, as will be highlighted below, all respondents noted that they would not want to change their experiences of being multiple. - 2024, Zarah Eve,...

Origin

From French multiple, itself from Late Latin multiplus.

Synonyms

manifold many morefold several plural

Antonyms

paucal

Related

multi- multiplicity multiplier multiply

Derived

battery electric multiple unit circummultiple diesel multiple unit electric multiple unit equimultiple Law of multiple proportion lowest common multiple multicast multicasting multinacci multiple algebra multiple allelism multiple-aspect multiple bond multiple cerebral sclerosis multiple chemical sensitivity multiple-choice multiple-choice question multiple citizenship multiple conjugation multiple dispatch multiple evanescent white dot syndrome multiple expansion multiple-exposure

Determiner

  1. More than one (followed by plural). [from late 20th c.]
    • My Swiss Army knife has multiple blades.
    • 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...
    • A study Kennedy discussed on multiple podcast episodes exposed male African clawed frogs to atrazine in a lab, castrating 75% of the male frogs and turning one in 10 males into females. - 2023 July 13, Abby Turner and...

Noun

  1. A whole number that is obtained by multiplying a specific whole number by another whole number.
    • 14, 21 and 70 are multiples of 7
  2. Price-earnings ratio.
  3. One of a set of the same thing; a duplicate.
    • One might view this attempt to ensure the scarcity of a multiple as both a marketing ploy and form of elitism. - 1996, Southeastern College Art Conference Review:
  4. A single individual who displays or experiences multiple personalities or selves.
    • 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! - 2010, Ann M. Garvey, Ann's Multiple World of Personality: Regular No Cream, No...
    • 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. - 2000, Henk Driessen, Ton Otto,...

    Synonyms: system

  5. One of a set of siblings produced by a multiple birth.
  6. A chain store.
    • 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...
  7. A discovery resulting from the work of many people throughout history, not merely the work of the person who makes the final connection.
    • Merton's argument that all scientific discoveries are multiples would seem to contradict the theory of genius […] - 2016, Thomas Söderqvist, The History and Poetics of Scientific Biography, page 99:
  8. More than one piercing in a single ear.
    • First of all, the 'greenhorn' stigma of piercing has worn off. The older woman sees her daughter wearing multiples. So she's confident enough to have her ears pierced at least once. - 1976, Jewelers' Circular/Keystone,...

Forms

multiples

Derived

common multiple least common multiple smallest common multiple