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Enlarge vs Multiply - What's the difference?

enlarge | multiply |

In transitive terms the difference between enlarge and multiply

is that enlarge is to increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, etc while multiply is to increase the amount, degree or number of (something).

In intransitive terms the difference between enlarge and multiply

is that enlarge is to speak at length upon or on (some subject while multiply is to breed or propagate.

As a noun multiply is

an act or instance of multiplying.

As an adverb multiply is

in many or multiple ways.

enlarge

English

Verb

(enlarg)
  • To make larger.
  • To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, etc.
  • Knowledge enlarges the mind.
  • * Bible, 2 Corinthians vi. 11
  • O ye Corinthians, our heart is enlarged .
  • To speak at length upon'' or ''on (some subject)
  • * 1664 , (Samuel Butler), Hudibras 2.2.68:
  • I shall enlarge upon the Point.
  • (archaic) To release; to set at large.
  • * 1580 , (Philip Sidney), Arcadia 329:
  • Like a Lionesse lately enlarged .
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.8:
  • Finding no meanes how I might us enlarge , / But if that Dwarfe I could with me convay, / I lightly snatcht him up and with me bore away.
  • * Barrow
  • It will enlarge us from all restraints.
  • * 1599 , (William Shakespeare), Henry V , Act II Scene II:
  • Uncle of Exeter, enlarge the man committed yesterday, that rail'd against our person. We consider it was excess of wine that set him on.
  • (nautical) To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to draw aft; said of the wind.
  • (legal) To extend the time allowed for compliance with (an order or rule).
  • (Abbott)

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * *

    multiply

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) multiplier, from (etyl) . The noun presumably derives from the verb.

    Verb

  • To increase the amount, degree or number of (something).
  • * Ames
  • Impunity will multiply motives to disobedience.
  • (arithmetic) To perform multiplication on (a number).
  • To grow in number.
  • To breed or propagate.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Welcome to the plastisphere , passage=[The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across.
  • (arithmetic) To perform multiplication.
  • (rare) To be a factor in a multiplication with (another factor).
  • * 1983 , Graham Flegg, Numbers , 2002 edition, ISBN 0486421651, page 154 [http://books.google.com/books?id=C0Wcb9c6c18C&pg=PA154&dq=multiplies]:
  • This follows a similar process, counters having to be removed and replaced at each stage of the remaining part of the calculation except the final one, where 2 multiplies 3 to give 6.
  • * 1993 , Edward T. Dowling, (w, Schaum's Outline) of Theory and Problems of Mathematical Methods for Business and Economics , ISBN 0070176744, page 14 [http://books.google.com/books?id=8PaQk7LodfoC&pg=PA14&dq=multiplies]:
  • Of all the possible combinations of factors above, only (2\cdot4)+(3\cdot5)=23. Carefully arranging the factors, therefore, to ensure that 2 multiplies' 4 and 3 ' multiplies 5, we have
  • *:: 6x^2+23x+20=(2x+5)(3x+4)
  • Synonyms
    * (l)

    Noun

    (multiplies)
  • (computer science) An act or instance of multiplying.
  • Etymology 2

    .

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In many or multiple ways.
  • English heteronyms