The Word “Multiply”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
The word “multiply” is a versatile term that is commonly used in mathematics, but also finds its way into everyday language with various meanings and applications. Whether in a mathematical context or when describing the growth or increase of something, “multiply” is a key word for understanding processes of addition, expansion, or enhancement.
What Does “Multiply” Mean?
The word “multiply” can function both as a verb and, less commonly, as a noun. It primarily conveys the idea of increasing or combining elements. Below are the two most common usages of the word:
1. As a Verb (Mathematics)
In mathematics, to multiply means to perform a mathematical operation that combines two or more numbers (called factors) to yield a product. Multiplication is one of the four basic operations in arithmetic, alongside addition, subtraction, and division.
- Example: “If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.”
2. As a Verb (General Usage)
Beyond mathematics, multiply can mean to increase or grow in number, quantity, or degree. It often refers to the expansion or reproduction of something.
- Example: “The company’s profits multiplied after the new product launch.”
3. As a Verb (Biological Context)
In biology, to multiply refers to the process of reproduction or procreation, particularly in reference to organisms or cells.
- Example: “Bacteria multiply rapidly under favorable conditions.”
Common Contexts in Which “Multiply” is Used
The word “multiply” is used in various fields and contexts. Let’s explore some of the most common ones:
1. Mathematics
In mathematics, multiplication is a fundamental operation used for scaling, combining, and solving problems. It involves calculating the total of one number repeated a certain number of times.
- Example: “To calculate the area of a rectangle, you multiply its length by its width.”
2. Business and Economics
In business and economics, the term “multiply” is often used metaphorically to describe the increase in profits, assets, or other resources. Multiplication in this context refers to growth or expansion.
- Example: “The investor’s initial capital multiplied within a year due to high returns.”
3. Biology and Genetics
In biological terms, multiply refers to the reproduction or division of cells and organisms. Organisms can multiply through processes like binary fission, mitosis, or sexual reproduction.
- Example: “Viruses multiply rapidly inside host cells.”
4. Technology and Innovation
In technology, multiply is sometimes used to describe the rapid increase of technological advancements or digital data. It can also refer to the scaling up of operations or systems.
- Example: “The number of internet users has multiplied over the last decade.”
5. Everyday Use
In everyday language, to multiply can simply mean an increase in number, intensity, or frequency of something. It could refer to anything from multiplying tasks to multiplying efforts in a project.
- Example: “The number of phone calls I receive seems to multiply every day.”
Translations of the Word “Multiply” in 30 Languages
Below is a table showing the translation of “multiply” in 30 different languages, along with example sentences in each language.
| Language | Translation | Example Sentence (in the target language) | English Translation of Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Multiply | “If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Spanish | Multiplicar | “Si multiplicas 6 por 7, obtienes 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| French | Multiplier | “Si vous multipliez 6 par 7, vous obtenez 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| German | Multiplizieren | “Wenn du 6 mit 7 multiplizierst, erhältst du 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Italian | Moltiplicare | “Se moltiplichi 6 per 7, ottieni 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Portuguese | Multiplicar | “Se multiplicares 6 por 7, obténs 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Russian | Умножить | “Если умножить 6 на 7, получится 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 乘以 | “如果你将6乘以7，你将得到42。” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Japanese | 掛け算する (Kakesan suru) | “6を7で掛け算すると42になります。” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Korean | 곱하다 (Gop-hada) | “6에 7을 곱하면 42가 됩니다.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Hindi | गुणा करना (Guna Karna) | “अगर आप 6 को 7 से गुणा करते हैं, तो आपको 42 मिलेगा।” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Bengali | গুণ করা (Gun Kora) | “যদি আপনি 6 কে 7 দিয়ে গুণ করেন, তবে 42 পাবেন।” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Urdu | ضرب دینا (Zarb Dena) | “اگر آپ 6 کو 7 سے ضرب دیتے ہیں، تو آپ کو 42 ملے گا۔” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Turkish | Çarpmak | “Eğer 6’yı 7 ile çarparsanız, 42 elde edersiniz.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Dutch | Vermenigvuldigen | “Als je 6 met 7 vermenigvuldigt, krijg je 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Greek | Πολλαπλασιάζω | “Αν πολλαπλασιάσεις το 6 με το 7, παίρνεις 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Swedish | Multiplicera | “Om du multiplicerar 6 med 7 får du 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Danish | Multiplisere | “Hvis du multiplicerer 6 med 7, får du 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Finnish | Kertoa | “Jos kerrot 6
7, saat 42.” |
(If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Norwegian | Multiplisere | “Hvis du multipliserer 6 med 7, får du 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Polish | Mnożyć | “Jeśli pomnożysz 6 przez 7, otrzymasz 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Czech | Násobit | “Pokud 6 vynásobíte 7, dostanete 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Hungarian | Szorozni | “Ha 6-ot 7-tel szorzol, 42-t kapsz.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Hebrew | להכפיל (Lehakpil) | “אם אתה מכפיל 6 ב-7, אתה מקבל 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Thai | คูณ (Khun) | “ถ้าคุณคูณ 6 กับ 7 คุณจะได้ 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Vietnamese | Nhân | “Nếu bạn nhân 6 với 7, bạn sẽ có 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Indonesian | Mengalikan | “Jika Anda mengalikan 6 dengan 7, Anda akan mendapatkan 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Filipino | Mag-multiply | “Kung imumultiply mo ang 6 sa 7, makakakuha ka ng 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Malay | Mendarab | “Jika anda mendarab 6 dengan 7, anda akan mendapat 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Swahili | Kuzidisha | “Ikiwa utazidisha 6 kwa 7, utapata 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
| Arabic | ضرب (Darb) | “إذا ضربت 6 في 7، ستحصل على 42.” | (If you multiply 6 by 7, you get 42.) |
The Importance and Applications of “Multiply”
“Multiply” is not only a key concept in mathematics but also a word with broad implications in many fields. From mathematics to biology and business, multiplication is used to describe growth, increase, or expansion. Whether it’s multiplying numbers to solve an equation, multiplying efforts to achieve success, or multiplying organisms through reproduction, the concept of “multiply” remains an essential and powerful tool in understanding the world around us.
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