multiplication

noun

mul·​ti·​pli·​ca·​tion ˌməl-tə-plə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce multiplication (audio)
1
: the act or process of multiplying : the state of being multiplied
2
a
: a mathematical operation that at its simplest is an abbreviated process of adding an integer to zero a specified number of times and that is extended to other numbers in accordance with laws that are valid for integers
b
: any of various mathematical operations that are analogous in some way to multiplication of the real numbers but are defined for other or larger sets of elements (such as complex numbers, vectors, matrices, or functions)

Examples of multiplication in a Sentence

Students are learning multiplication and division. a disease causing uncontrolled multiplication of cells an uncontrolled multiplication of cells
Recent Examples on the Web And this multiplication of snakes is still ongoing, says Rabosky. Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 There were more than 2,000 VFX shots in the film, including CGI virtual sets, crowd multiplication and digital prosthetics. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 Jan. 2024 The first is nonlinearity, the idea that change will happen by factors of multiplication, rather than addition. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2024 Their functions included computing higher-order multiplications, exponents and logarithms, among other mathematical operations. Alex Traub, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 Along with your child, use a Sharpie to write an addition/subtraction or multiplication/division equation (depending on your child's skills) on each triangle, placing one number in each corner; circle the answer. Rachelle Doorley, Parents, 16 Aug. 2023 But undoing multiplication, or factoring, is very hard if the numbers are large. Kelsey Houston-Edwards, Scientific American, 16 Jan. 2024 The one-way function for RSA works in a similar manner but relies on the multiplication and factorization of large prime numbers. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2023 In particular, its data center GPU lines are exceptionally good at performing billions of the matrix multiplications necessary to run neural networks due to their parallel architecture. Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 24 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'multiplication.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English multiplicacioun, from Anglo-French multiplicacion, from Latin multiplication-, multiplicatio, from multiplicare to multiply

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of multiplication was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near multiplication

Cite this Entry

“Multiplication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multiplication. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

multiplication

noun
mul·​ti·​pli·​ca·​tion ˌməl-tə-plə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce multiplication (audio)
1
: the act or process of multiplying
2
: a mathematical operation that takes two numbers and gives an answer equal to the sum of a column containing one of the numbers repeated the number of times of the other number
the multiplication of 8 and 3 is the same as the sum of 8+8+8
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