\Mul"ti*ple\, a. [Cf. F. multiple, and E. quadruple,
and multiply.]
Containing more than once, or more than one; consisting of
more than one; manifold; repeated many times; having several,
or many, parts.
{Law of multiple proportion} (Chem.), the generalization that
   when the same elements unite in more than one proportion,
   forming two or more different compounds, the higher
   proportions of the elements in such compounds are simple
   multiplies of the lowest proportion, or the proportions
   are connected by some simple common factor; thus, iron and
   oxygen unite in the proportions {FeO}, {Fe2O3}, {Fe3O4},
   in which compounds, considering the oxygen, 3 and 4 are
   simple multiplies of 1. Called also the {Law of Dalton},
   from its discoverer.
{Multiple algebra}, a branch of advanced mathematics that
   treats of operations upon units compounded of two or more
   unlike units.
{Multiple conjugation} (Biol.), a coalescence of many cells
   (as where an indefinite number of am[oe]boid cells flow
   together into a single mass) from which conjugation proper
   and even fertilization may have been evolved.
{Multiple fruits}. (Bot.) See {Collective fruit}, under
   {Collective}.
{Multiple star} (Astron.), several stars in close proximity,
   which appear to form a single system.

\Mul"ti*ple\, n. (Math.)
A quantity containing another quantity a number of times
without a remainder.
Note:
{A common multiple} of two or more numbers contains each of
   them a number of times exactly; thus, 24 is a common
   multiple of 3 and 4. The
{least common multiple} is the least number that will do
   this; thus, 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.