molteplici

Molteplici is an Italian adjective meaning numerous or many, used to indicate that there are several instances, kinds, or possibilities of something. The singular form is molteplice, and the plural for both genders is molteplici. The related noun molteplicità denotes multiplicity, plurality, or the state of being multiple. In ordinary Italian, molteplici is widely used in everyday speech and writing, e.g., soluzioni molteplici (multiple solutions), ragioni molteplici (numerous reasons).

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from Latin sources associated with multiplicity, with the Italian noun molteplicità and the adjective molteplice forming the common family. The root elements convey the sense of “many” and “folds” or “layers,” encoding the idea of plurality across contexts.

In mathematics, molteplicità is the standard translation of multiplicity. It describes how many times a given object occurs in a certain context. For example, in algebra, the root r of a polynomial f(x) has multiplicity m if f(x) has a zero at r of order m. In geometry and analysis, one speaks of intersection multiplicities or zero multiplicities to quantify tangency or overlap.

Usage notes: ensure agreement with the noun it modifies; use molteplice for singular references and molteplici for plural. When discussing mathematical concepts, molteplicità or molteplicità delle radici are preferred terms to distinguish multiplicity from general abundance. Overall, molteplici conveys a sense of plurality and variety across disciplines, while molteplicità names the abstract property itself.