multi-

/mʌl.ti-/ (bre, ipa) · /mʌl.ti-/ (ame, ipa)

multi- — prefix

1. added to the start of a noun or adjective to show that the thing involves or con

1.字首B1
釋義

added to the start of a noun or adjective to show that the thing involves or contains many of whatever the base word names — many people, many parts, many colours, many uses, and so on.

例句

Dylan bought a multi-pack of pencils for the whole art class.

multi- + noun: many items in one package

The hotel sits inside a multi-storey building near the central station.

multi- + noun: many floors or layers

同義詞
  • poly-

    Greek-rooted; common in scientific or technical terms (polygon, polyglot, polyester).

  • many-

    everyday English equivalent for descriptive compounds (many-sided, many-coloured); less productive than multi-.

  • pluri-

    rare and academic; mostly seen in linguistics or theology (pluricentric, pluriform).

反義詞
  • mono-

    Greek for 'one' — opposite when the contrast is single vs multiple (monolingual vs multilingual, monorail vs multi-rail).

  • uni-

    Latin for 'one' — opposite in formal terms (unilateral vs multilateral, unicolour vs multicolour).

文法句型

multi- + adjective

multi- + noun

用法筆記

Joined with a hyphen in newer or less established combinations (multi-pack, multi-coloured); written solid in long-established words (multimedia, multiple, multitask). Distinguish from sense 2 below, which specifically means 'more than two' (not just 'more than one') — used in formal or technical terms like multilateral or multipolar.

常見錯誤

❌a multi friend
✅many friends.
💡multi- attaches to a noun to mean 'many of that noun' as part of one compound (multi-tool); it is not a stand-alone word meaning 'many'.
❌multi cars on the road
✅many cars on the road' or 'a multi-car pile-up'.
💡use the prefix only when forming a compound word; for ordinary 'many', use the word many.

2. added to certain technical or formal adjectives to show that something involves

2.字首C1
釋義

added to certain technical or formal adjectives to show that something involves three or more parties, sides, or directions — used in contrast with bi- (two) and uni- (one), not just 'many'.

例句

The countries signed a multi-lateral trade deal that included Japan, Brazil, and Kenya.

multi-lateral: three or more parties, contrasted with bi-lateral

Eliska studies the shift to a multi-polar world in her international relations class.

multi-polar: more than two centres of power

同義詞
  • poly-

    near-equivalent in scientific compounds (polyatomic, polycentric); same 'three or more' nuance.

  • pluri-

    academic synonym used in some specialist terms (pluricentric).

反義詞
  • bi-

    exactly two (bi-lateral, bi-polar) — the most common contrast with this sense of multi-.

  • uni-

    exactly one (uni-lateral, uni-polar) — the other end of the same scale.

文法句型

multi- + adjective

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: 'more than two' is the precise reading here. Use this sense in formal or technical contexts where the contrast with bi- (two) matters; for everyday 'many', use sense 1. Common partners are -lateral, -polar, -directional, -axial, -disciplinary, -ethnic.

常見錯誤

❌a multi-lateral conversation between two friends
✅a bi-lateral conversation between two friends.
💡multi-lateral requires three or more parties; use bi-lateral for exactly two.
❌multi-directional means two directions
✅multi-directional means three or more directions.
💡pairs go with bi-, not multi-.