MULTIPLICATION
generation, multiplication, propagation
(noun) the act of producing offspring or multiplying by such production
multiplication, times
(noun) an arithmetic operation that is the inverse of division; the product of two numbers is computed; “the multiplication of four by three gives twelve”; “four times three equals twelve”
multiplication
(noun) a multiplicative increase; “repeated copying leads to a multiplication of errors”; “this multiplication of cells is a natural correlate of growth”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
multiplication (countable and uncountable, plural multiplications)
(uncountable, arithmetic) The process of computing the sum of a number with itself a specified number of times, or any other analogous binary operation that combines other mathematical objects.
(countable, arithmetic) A calculation involving multiplication.
The process of multiplying or increasing in number; increase.
Source: Wiktionary
Mul`ti*pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. multiplicatio: cf. F.
multiplication. See Multiply.]
1. The act or process of multiplying, or of increasing in number; the
state of being multiplied; as, the multiplication of the human
species by natural generation.
The increase and multiplication of the world. Thackeray.
2. (Math.)
Definition: The process of repeating, or adding to itself, any given number
or quantity a certain number of times; commonly, the process of
ascertaining by a briefer computation the result of such repeated
additions; also, the rule by which the operation is performed; -- the
reverse of division.
Note: The word multiplication is sometimes used in mathematics,
particularly in multiple algebra, to denote any distributive
operation expressed by one symbol upon any quantity or any thing
expressed by another symbol. Corresponding extensions of meaning are
given to the words multiply, multiplier, multiplicand, and product.
Thus, since f(x + y) = fx + fy (see under Distributive), where f(x +
y), fx, and fy indicate the results of any distributive operation
represented by the symbol f upon x + y, x, and y, severally, then
because of many very useful analogies f(x + y) is called the product
of f and x + y, and the operation indicated by f is called
multiplication. Cf. Facient, n., 2.
3. (Bot.)
Definition: An increase above the normal number of parts, especially of
petals; augmentation.
4. The art of increasing gold or silver by magic, -- attributed
formerly to the alchemists. [Obs.] Chaucer. Multiplication table, a
table giving the product of a set of numbers multiplied in some
regular way; commonly, a table giving the products of the first ten
or twelve numbers multiplied successively by 1, 2, 3, etc., up to 10
or 12.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition