Multiplication is a word with three related but distinctclearly different from one another, not the same meanings. It can refer to the mathematicalrelating to numbers, calculations, or arithmetic operation of multiplying, to the process of producing offspringchildren or young produced by a parent, or to an increase in number or amount.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌmʌltəpləˈkeɪʃən/
Easy pronunciation: mul-ti-pli-KAY-shun (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the KAY syllable.
Math sense: the operation of multiplying numbers.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Multiplication Meaning
the math operation of multiplying numbers
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an arithmetic operation that is the inverse of division; the product of two numbers is computed
Example: The multiplication of four by three gives twelve.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- times — A direct synonym in the math sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Multiplication
Meaning 2
the process of producing more of a species
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of producing offspring or multiplying by such production
Example: In biology, multiplication can refer to the production of offspring.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- generation — Works in the reproduction sense.
- propagation — Used for spreading or reproducing living organisms, but less common in everyday speech.
Meaning 3
a rapid increase in number or amount
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a multiplicative increase
Example: Repeated copying led to a multiplication of errors.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Multiplication Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- times
production of offspring or reproduction
- generation
- propagation
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use multiplication to mean multiplication in arithmetic only; the word also has biological and general ‘increase’ senses.
- Times is a synonym for the math sense, not for the reproduction or general increase senses.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does multiplication mean in math?
In math, multiplication is the operation of combining numbers to get a product. For example, 4 × 3 = 12.
Can multiplication mean growth or increase?
Yes. It can describe a rise in number or amount, such as the multiplication of errors or cells.
Is times a synonym for multiplication?
Yes, but only in the arithmetic sense. It does not fit the reproduction or general increase meanings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.