multiple
adj. · n.-
1 many or various (adj.) B1 Intermediatehaving or involving many different people, parts, or things.
consisting of, including, or involving more than one or many individuals, parts, or elements.
ExampleThe victim suffered multiple injuries in the car accident.
ExampleThe investigation revealed multiple failures in the safety protocol, suggesting a systemic issue rather than a single human error.
PitfallHe has multiple car.He has multiple cars.The adjective 'multiple' must be followed by a plural noun when used as a quantifier.
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2 math product (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Matha number that you get when you multiply one whole number by another.
a number that may be divided by another number without a remainder.
ExampleThe numbers 10, 15, and 20 are all multiples of 5.
ExampleStudents must learn to identify the least common multiple of two denominators before they can successfully add fractions with different bases.
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3 finance ratio (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Financea way to measure a company's value by comparing its stock price to its earnings.
a valuation ratio, typically the price-to-earnings ratio, used to determine the relative value of a company's shares.
ExampleInvestors are willing to pay a high multiple for tech companies.
ExampleThe firm is currently trading at a multiple of twenty times its annual earnings, which some analysts consider overvalued for the sector.
UsageOften used with 'trading at' or 'high/low'.
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4 multiple birth (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Medicineone of several babies born at the same time to the same mother.
one of several offspring produced in a single birth, such as a twin or triplet.
ExampleThe hospital has a special unit for caring for multiples.
ExampleThe incidence of multiples has increased significantly due to the widespread use of fertility treatments over the last few decades.
From French multiple, itself from Late Latin multiplus.
- Nounmultiverse
- Adjectivemultiple