multiple
Americanadjective
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consisting of, having, or involving several or many individuals, parts, elements, relations, etc.; manifold.
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Electricity.
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(of circuits) arranged in parallel.
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(of a circuit or circuits) having a number of points at which connection can be made.
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Botany. (of a fruit) collective.
noun
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Mathematics. a number that contains another number an integral number of times without a remainder.
12 is a multiple of 3.
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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.
adjective
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having or involving more than one part, individual, etc
he had multiple injuries
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electronics (of a circuit) having a number of conductors in parallel
noun
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the product of a given number or polynomial and any other one
6 is a multiple of 2
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telephony an electrical circuit accessible at a number of points to any one of which a connection can be made
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short for multiple store
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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
Etymology
Origin of multiple
First recorded in 1570–80; from French, from Late Latin multiplus “manifold”; multi-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Curry also praised the sturdiness of the British Challenger 2 tank, which he said is capable of surviving multiple drone strikes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
I was embarrassed at having overlooked the multiple red flags Webb identified, from related-party transactions to high auditor turnover.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
“As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Becoming a multiple champion this week, and a rare back-to-back winner, would be another golfing mountain which he has managed to scale.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
The convoluted syntax, multiple negatives, indefinite antecedents, and masterful circumlocutions of this statement defy comprehension.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.