multiplicity

(mŭl'tə-plĭs'ĭ-tē)
n., pl., -ties.

1. The state of being various or manifold: the multiplicity of architectural styles on that street.
2. A large number: a multiplicity of ideas.

[Middle English, from Old French multiplicite, from Late Latin multiplicitās, from multiplex, various. See multiplex.]

View more Science videos

A quantity used in atomic spectra to describe the energy levels of many-electron atoms characterized by Russell-Saunders coupling given by 2S+1, where S is the total electron spin quantum number. The multiplicity of an energy level is indicated by a left superscript to the value of L, where L is the resultant electron orbital angular momentum of the individual electron orbital angular momenta l.

---

noun

1. The quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals: diverseness, diversification, diversity, heterogeneity, heterogeneousness, miscellaneousness, multifariousness, multiformity, variegation, variety, variousness. Biology polymorphism. See same/different/compare.
2. An indeterminately great amount or number: jillion, million (often used in plural), ream, trillion. Informal bushel, gob¹ (often used in plural), heap (often used in plural), load (often used in plural), lot, oodles, passel, peck², scad (often used in plural), slew, wad, zillion. See big/small/amount.

(in physics) the number of components in a multiplet.

Previous:	multiplication-stimulating activity, multiplicand, multiplet
Next:	multiplicity of infection, multiplicity reactivation, multiplier

For a list of words related to multiplicity, see:

• Maximizers and Superlatives

---

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - mangeartethed

Nederlands (Dutch)
menigvuldigheid, veelsoortigheid, groot aantal

Français (French)
n. - multiplicité, multitude

Deutsch (German)
n. - Vielfalt, Vielzahl

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - πολλαπλότητα

Italiano (Italian)
molteplicità

Português (Portuguese)
n. - variedade (f)

Русский (Russian)
сложность, многообразие, многочисленность

Español (Spanish)
n. - multiplicidad

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - mångfald, sammansatt

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
多数, 多样, 重复

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 多數, 多樣, 重複

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 다양성

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 多数, 多様, 重複

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تعدديه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מספר רב, ריבוי‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.