multiplier
nounUK [ˈmʌɫ.tɪˌplaɪ.ə(ɹ)] · US [ˈmʌɫ.tɪˌplaɪ.ɚ]
Etymology From multiply + -er.
7 senses
- 1One who multiplies or causes something to increase.
- 2A number by which another (the multiplicand) is to be multiplied.
- 3An adjective indicating the number of times something is…
- 4A ratio used to estimate total economic effect for a…
- 5Any of several devices used to enhance a signal
- 6a coil; when Johann Schweigger in 1820 invented the…
- 7A multiplier onion.
1
One who multiplies or causes something to increase.
2
Arithmetic A number by which another (the multiplicand) is to be multiplied.
- In the expression 5 × 7, the "5" is a multiplier.
- The score multiplier increases each time you complete a level of the video game.
3 more examples
- The electron number constraint unlike the idempotency constraint can be represented by a single equation. For this reason, one can properly incorporate this constraint using a Lagrange multiplier and defining an effective chemical potential1997, Christopher Alan White, The Development of Ab Initio Methods for the Treatment of Large Molecules:
- After studying a recursive formulation and the associated Bellman equation, in section 5.5 we analyze a Lagrangian formulation that provides useful insights about how Lagrange multipliers on transition laws relate to gradients of value functions.2018, Lars Ljungqvist and Thomas J. Sargent, Recursive macroeconomic theory, 4th edition, MIT Press, page 129:
- But that can be ignored, because the USTR has set ε at 4 and φ at 0.25, so when computed give an overall multiplier of 1 for the imports number. And multiplying by 1 makes no difference at all.2025 April 3, Felix Salmon, “How to read the White House's tariff formula”, in Axios, archived from the original on 05 Apr 2025:
3
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences An adjective indicating the number of times something is to be multiplied.
- English multipliers include "double" and "triple".
4
Economics, Sciences A ratio used to estimate total economic effect for a variety of economic activities.
- There is a second-round effect of crowding in higher private investment as public sector contractors tool up to meet the public contracts, and then a third – as all firms adjust to the higher level of demand by raising business investment levels – of more crowding in and so-called “multiplier effects”.2024 November 3, Will Hutton, “Investment drives growth. That’s why gloomy forecasters are so wrong about the budget”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2025:
5
Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Any of several devices used to enhance a signal
7
A multiplier onion.
- Shallots are the most prolific of all the multipliers, and easier to grow than onions.1995, Marian Coonse, Onions, Leeks and Garlic: A Handbook for Gardeners, page 52:
- Derived terms
- biomultiplier, electron multiplier, force multiplier, frequency multiplier, function multiplier, Greinacher multiplier, multiplier effect, multiplier of words, photomultiplier, thermomultiplier, voltage multiplier
- Related terms
- successor, + =, + +... =, − =, × =, × ×... =, ÷ =, Or sometimes, =, √ =, log(base) =, mechanical torque multiplier, power multiplier
- Hypernyms
- operand
- Coordinate terms
- cardinal number, distributive number, ordinal number