What does "multiply" mean?

Multiply: (Math.) To add (any given number or quantity) to itself a certain number of times; to find the product of by multiplication; thus 7 multiplied by 8 produces the number 56; to multiply two numbers. See the Note under Multiplication.

Additional senses

  1. 2.To increase (the amount of gold or silver) by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Multiplying gear (Mach.), gear for increasing speed. -- Multiplying lens. (Opt.) See under Lens.
  2. 3.To become greater in number; to become numerous. When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Gen. vi.
  3. 4.2. To increase in extent and influence; to spread. The word of God grew and multiplied. Acts xii.
  4. 5.3. To increase amount of gold or silver by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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