术语前缀multi-来自拉丁形容词multus，原意为many (许多），在构词中又引申出having many (有许多…的），many times (多次）等含义。multi-最先出现在拉丁借词中，现在已成为英语中的活性前缀。它可以加在形容词之前，构成形容词；它也可以加在名词前，表示having many的意思，构成形容词（注意，这时 multi-改变了词基单词的词性）或名词。

下面先介绍multi-与拉丁词根相结合的例子。

multiflorous [ multi- = many 多;flor = flower 花;-ous a.= having 有…的=>“having many flowers 有许多花的”→]a. bearing many flowers 多花的 / The plum is a kind of multiflorous tree.李树是一种多花的果树。

multiped [ multi- = having many 有许多…的；ped = foot 足=> ] a. having many feet 多足的 / The snake moves faster than some multiped animals.蛇的运动速度比某些多足动物还快。

multiply [ multi - = many times 多次；ply = to fold 对折=>“to fold many times 对折多次”=>“to increase in number 增加”→] v.① increase 增加/ As we climbed up the mountain the dangers and difficulties multiplied. 随着我们往山上爬，困难与危险都增加了。② increase by procreation 繁殖 / Germs multiply very fast.细菌繁殖得很快。③ take (a number) a given times 乘 / To multiply 4 by 3 means to take 4 three times, making 12. 4乘以3就是把3个4相加，等于12。

multiplier n. 增加者；增殖者；乘数 

multiplication n. 增加；繁殖；乘法运算

下面举些例子说明multi-与单词缀合的情况。

multilateral [ multi- = many 多；lateral a. 边的→]a. having or involving many sides or nations 多边的;多国参加的 / A multilateral treaty was signed in the conference. 在那次会议上签订了一项多边条约。