What is multiply? Pronunciation and usage in English

multiply means . Learn how to pronounce and use multiply through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of multiply

multiplyverb

/ˈmʌltɪplʌɪ/
Definition & pronunciation of multiply

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "multiply" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. The General Sound:

The word is generally pronounced with a slightly "glottal" (throat) sound at the beginning.

2. Syllable by Syllable:

  • Multi-: This part is key. It’s pronounced like "mool-tree."
    • "mool" – like "rule" but with an "oo" sound.
    • "tree" – like the word "tree." It's a short, quick "ee" sound.
  • -ply: This part is pronounced like "plee."
    • "plee" – like "plea."

3. Putting it Together:

So, it sounds like: mool-tree-plee

4. The Glottal Stop (The Tricky Part):

This is where many people stumble. A glottal stop is a very brief pause in the sound, made by closing your vocal cords for a tiny moment. It's similar to the sound you make when you catch your throat.

  • At the very beginning of the word, you'll make this brief pause before saying "mool." It's almost like a little "uh" sound, but shorter.

5. Full Pronunciation:

It’s best heard than described, of course! Here are a few resources to help you hear it:

Tips for Practice:

  • Slow it Down: Start by saying each syllable individually – "mool-tree-plee."
  • Find the Glottal Stop: Concentrate on making that very short pause at the beginning.
  • Listen and Repeat: The best way to learn is to listen to native speakers and imitate their pronunciation.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Give you some example sentences using "multiply"?

Usage and examples with the word multiply in English

Let's break down how to use the word "multiply" in English. It's a versatile word with several meanings and uses! Here's a comprehensive guide:

1. As a Verb – Meaning to Increase by a Factor

This is the most common meaning. “Multiply” means to make something bigger by a specific number or ratio.

  • Mathematics: This is its core meaning.
    • "If you multiply 5 by 3, the result is 15." (5 x 3 = 15)
    • "The number of apples multiplied by two is twenty."
  • General Increase: It can describe a broader increase beyond simple math.
    • "The problem multiplied quickly, and soon we had a huge backlog of orders." (The problem became worse and bigger.)
    • "The number of people attending our events has multiplied in the last year." (Increased a lot.)
    • "His success multiplied as he gained more experience." (His success grew increasingly.)

2. As a Verb – Meaning to Reproduce (especially of living things)

  • "Bacteria multiply rapidly in warm, moist conditions."
  • "Plants multiply by seed or by cuttings."
  • "The goat multiplied quickly on the farm.”

3. As a Verb – Meaning to Produce or Generate

This usage is a bit less common but still important.

  • "The new software multiplied the efficiency of our team." (It generated more efficiency.)
  • “The success of the campaign multiplied the support for the policy.” (It produced more support.)

4. As a Noun – Meaning a Result of Multiplication

  • "The product of the numbers is 24 – the multiplication is 24." (This is a more formal way to refer to the answer of a multiplication problem.)
  • “Let’s look at the multiplication table.” (Referring to the grid of multiplication results.)

Important Considerations & Related Words:

  • Synonyms: Words that often work as synonyms for "multiply" include: increase, multiply, expand, grow, multiply, proliferate, amplify. The best choice depends on the specific context.

  • Phrases:

    • Multiply by: (Almost always used with a number) "Multiply the cost by two."
    • Multiply into: “The numbers multiplied into a single, complex equation.”
    • Multiply on: “The stress multiplied on him as the deadline approached.”

  • Formal vs. Informal: “Multiply” is a fairly formal word. In casual conversation, you’d often use simpler words like “increase” or “grow.”

Examples in Sentences (to illustrate different uses):

  • "The population of the city is expected to multiply significantly in the next decade." (Increase)
  • "The virus can multiply within the body, leading to serious illness." (Reproduce)
  • "The use of this tool will multiply your productivity." (Generate)
  • “The price of gasoline multiplied after the recent pipeline shutdown.” (Increased)

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you trying to use "multiply" in? (e.g., math problems, describing a business situation, talking about personal growth?)

Synonyms for the word multiply

Practice with vocabulary multiply

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Rapid economic growth can ________ opportunities for businesses, but also challenges for infrastructure.
  2. If not properly managed, small issues in the system can quickly ________ and become major problems.
  3. The speaker used a microphone to ________ her voice, ensuring everyone in the large hall could hear clearly.
  4. Over time, even small contributions to a savings account can ________ into a substantial sum.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. To achieve our ambitious sales targets, we need strategies that will ________ our customer base significantly. a) multiply b) divide c) reduce d) expand

  2. Neglecting the initial small flaws in the design can ________ the risks later in the production cycle. a) multiply b) alleviate c) exacerbate d) diminish

  3. The goal of the outreach program is to ________ the positive impact of our services across more communities. a) multiply b) curtail c) augment d) decrease

  4. Before the data can be analyzed, it needs to be ________ from various sources into a single, cohesive dataset. a) disseminate b) integrate c) segregate d) compile

  5. The new marketing campaign aims to ________ brand awareness by reaching a wider audience through social media. a) amplify b) restrict c) broaden d) narrow

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The company plans to significantly increase its investment in renewable energy projects next year. Rewrite (using "multiply" or related word forms):
  2. Original: If we combine our efforts, we can achieve much greater results. Rewrite (using "multiply" or related word forms):
  3. Original: The project’s success will open up many new possibilities for future development. Rewrite (without using "multiply"):

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. multiply
  2. multiply
  3. amplify
  4. accumulate

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) multiply, d) expand
  2. a) multiply, c) exacerbate
  3. a) multiply, c) augment
  4. b) integrate, d) compile
  5. a) amplify, c) broaden

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The company plans to multiply its investment in renewable energy projects next year.
  2. If we multiply our efforts, we can achieve much greater results.
  3. The project’s success will generate many new possibilities for future development.

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