(-ies, -ied)with obj.
1- obtain from (a number) another which contains the first number a specified number of times乘, 使相乘：
I asked you to multiply fourteen by nineteen
我要你将14乘以19
no obj. we all know how to multiply by ten.我们都知道怎样乘以10.
1.1
- increase or cause to increase greatly in number or quantity（使）大量增加：
no obj. ever since I became a landlord my troubles have multiplied tenfold自从我成为房东以后, 我的麻烦增加了十倍
with obj. cigarette smoking combines with other factors to multiply the risks of atherosclerosis.吸烟和其他因素结合在一起使患动脉粥样硬化症的危险倍增。
1.2
- no obj.(of an animal or other organism) increase in number by reproducing（动物或其他有机体）繁殖, 增殖。
1.3
- propagate (plants)繁殖（植物）。
词源
Middle English: from Old French multiplier, from Latin multiplicare.