multiplicativeadj.n.
/ˈmʌltᵻplᵻˌkeɪtɪv/, /ˈmʌltᵻplᵻkətɪv/, /ˌmʌltᵻˈplɪkətɪv/, U.S. /ˈməltəpləˌkeɪdɪv/, /ˌməltəˈplɪkədɪv/ A. adj.
1. Tending to multiply or increase; having the quality or function of multiplying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > tending to increase something
augmentativea1500
multiplicative1604
multiplying of1646
proliferative1952
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > [adjective] > multiple > relating to multiplication
multiplicative1604
multiplicational1850
the world > relative properties > number > plurality > [adjective] > number of times
equimultiple1656
tantuple1656
totuple1656
multiplicative1863
1604 T. Pie Usuries Spright Coniured 60 Though cattell be subiect to diseases, & death too: yet they are by nature..auctificous, and multiplicative, and therefore leave other in their roome behinde them.
1650 J. F. tr. M. Sedziwój New Light of Alchymie 116 A great flame devours a little Fire: the extrinsecall Fire must be multiplicative, nourishing, not devouring, so things are perfected.
1670 W. Clarke Nat. Hist. Nitre 18 The form of Minerals is multiplicative of it self in a dispos'd matter, and proper place.
1765 Universal Mag. 37 236/1 The plague..proves the multiplicative power of those spirits.
1863 Amer. Jrnl. Sci. 86 325 The abnormal number of segments under the multiplicative method may arise from a self-subdivision of enlarging normal segments.
1868 A. Sandeman Pelicotetics 24 By finding the products in backward order the multiplicative and the additive parts of the process may be carried on together.
1899 Jrnl. Royal Microsc. Soc. 289 Dr. Fr. Doflein describes nine new forms of Myxosporidia... One of his most interesting results is the evidence of a ‘multiplicative’ mode of reproduction by division, in addition to the ‘propagative’ mode of reproduction by spores.
1926 Amer. Jrnl. Hygiene 6 338 In the genus Strongyloides [of nematodes]..in many instances there is only one multiplicative generation.
1990 M. P. Walsh in J. Leggett Global Warming xii. 289 Such large improvements are possible because of the multiplicative effects of improvements in the efficiency of the power plant and reductions in power requirements.
2. Grammar. Designating a word or affix which denotes multiplication by a certain quantity, as double, fourfold, tri-.
ΚΠ
1863 W. Smith Gram. Lat. Lang. §71. 33 Multiplicative Numerals end in -plex.
1886 T. Le M. Douse Introd. Gothic 149 ‘Multiplicative’ adjs. are formed by adding falþa-, ‘-fold’ to the cardinals.
1974 R. S. Cahn Introd. Chem. Nomencl. (ed. 4) iii. 42 Multiplicative prefixes bis-, tris-, tetrakis-, etc. are used in America for all complex expressions.
3. Mathematics. Relating to or involving the mathematical operation of multiplication; that multiplies; spec. (a) (of a function f) that is distributive over multiplication, i.e. such that f(xy) = f(x)f(y); (b) (of an inverse or identity) that is such under multiplication.
ΚΠ
1899 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 21 135 Except for a multiplicative constant, there is one, and only one, product whose value is independent of a circuit about two singular points.
1931 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 33 579 Every multiplicative function of a single argument possesses an inverse, which is also a multiplicative function.
1966 J. S. Meyer & S. Hanlon Fun with New Math i. 12 The number one is the multiplicative identity, for the product of it and any other number leaves the second number unchanged.
1972 A. G. Howson Handbk. Terms Algebra & Anal. v. 25 The operation × is frequently written as a product, i.e. (x, y) → xy, or as a sum, (x, y) → x + y. We then say that (G, ×) is respectively a multiplicative or an additive group.
1974 Nature 5 Apr. 472/1 In the neutrino case Einstein's field equations simply reduce to the equality of these two tensors (apart from a multiplicative constant including Newton's constant of gravitation, G).
1998 Population 10 266 A classic measure of the reproductive rate R0 can be broken down into a series of multiplicative components.
B. n.
1. Grammar. A word or affix which denotes multiplication by a certain quantity, as double, fourfold, tri-.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > [noun] > multiplication > multiplier or multiplicand
multipliantc1450
multiplicator1543
multiplier1543
multiplicand1594
factor1658
multiplied1660
coefficient1708
geniture1718
multiplicative1727
factor1779
weight1825
conversion factor1918
scale factor1948
co-factor-
1727–52 E. Chambers Cycl. Multiplicatives. See Numerals.
1872 R. Morris Hist. Outl. Eng. Accidence §134 Multiplicatives are expressed..By adjectives, with suffix -fold [etc.].
1897 N.E.D. at -fold suffix The Teut. suffix is appended to cardinal numerals..forming adjs...which serve also and chiefly as arithmetical multiplicatives.
1928 H. Poutsma Gram. Late Mod. Eng. (ed. 2) iv. 304 The multiplicatives double, treble, quadruple.
2. Logic. A connective symbol between two logical propositions that is analogous to numerical multiplication in being distributive over additive connective symbols.
ΚΠ
1987 Theoret. Computer Sci. 50 19 The multiplicative connectives (or multiplicatives) are the connectives times, par and entails.
1989 Arch. Math. Logic 28 182 We can think of the multiplicatives as descriptions of packed informations, which will be processed together.
2000 Logic Jrnl. IGPL 8 152 The connectives ⊗, ∂, ⊸, together with the neutral elements I (w.r.t. ⊗) and ⊥ (w.r.t. ∂) are called multiplicatives.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1604