—adj.
1 having several or many parts, elements, or individual components.
2 (foll. by pl. noun) many and various.
3 Bot. (of fruit) collective.
—n.
1 a number that may be divided by another a certain number of times without a remainder (56 is a multiple of 7).
2 a multiple shop or store.
Phrases and idioms:
least (or lowest) common multiple the least quantity that is a multiple of two or more given quantities. multiple-choice (of a question in an examination) accompanied by several possible answers from which the correct one has to be chosen. multiple personality Psychol. the apparent existence of two or more distinct personalities in one individual. multiple sclerosis see SCLEROSIS. multiple shop (or store) Brit. a shop or store with branches in several places. multiple standard see STANDARD. multiple star several stars so close as to seem one, esp. when forming a connected system.
Derivatives:
multiply adv.
Etymology: F f. LL multiplus f. L (as MULTIPLEX)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.