MANIFOLD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does manifold mean? 

• MANIFOLD (noun)
  The noun MANIFOLD has 3 senses:

1. a pipe that has several lateral outlets to or from other pipes

2. a lightweight paper used with carbon paper to make multiple copies

3. a set of points such as those of a closed surface or an analogue in three or more dimensions

  Familiarity information: MANIFOLD used as a noun is uncommon.

• MANIFOLD (adjective)
  The adjective MANIFOLD has 1 sense:

1. many and varied; having many features or forms

  Familiarity information: MANIFOLD used as an adjective is very rare.

• MANIFOLD (verb)
  The verb MANIFOLD has 2 senses:

1. make multiple copies of

2. combine or increase by multiplication

  Familiarity information: MANIFOLD used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MANIFOLD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A pipe that has several lateral outlets to or from other pipes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("manifold" is a kind of...):

pipage; pipe; piping (a long tube made of metal or plastic that is used to carry water or oil or gas etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "manifold"):

exhaust manifold (a manifold that receives exhaust gases from the cylinders and conducts them to the exhaust pipe)

inlet manifold (manifold that carries vaporized fuel from the carburetor to the inlet valves of the cylinders)

intake manifold (a manifold consisting of a pipe to carry fuel to each cylinder in an internal-combustion engine)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A lightweight paper used with carbon paper to make multiple copies

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

manifold; manifold paper

Context example:

an original and two manifolds

Hypernyms ("manifold" is a kind of...):

paper (a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses)

Derivation:

manifold (make multiple copies of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A set of points such as those of a closed surface or an analogue in three or more dimensions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("manifold" is a kind of...):

mathematical space; topological space ((mathematics) any set of points that satisfy a set of postulates of some kind)

• MANIFOLD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Many and varied; having many features or forms

Synonyms:

manifold; multiplex

Context example:

the multiplex opportunities in high technology

Similar:

multiple (having or involving or consisting of more than one part or entity or individual)

• MANIFOLD (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make multiple copies of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

multiply a letter

Hypernyms (to "manifold" is one way to...):

copy; re-create (make a replica of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

manifold (a lightweight paper used with carbon paper to make multiple copies)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Combine or increase by multiplication

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

manifold; multiply

Context example:

He managed to multiply his profits

Hypernyms (to "manifold" is one way to...):

increase (make bigger or more)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "manifold"):

double; duplicate (increase twofold)

treble; triple (increase threefold)

quadruple (increase fourfold)

quintuple (increase fivefold)

proliferate (cause to grow or increase rapidly)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

I used manifold, and so took three copies of the diary, just as I had done with all the rest.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Having, relating to, or consisting of more than one individual, element, part, or other component; manifold.

(Multiple, NCI Thesaurus)

There was no thought now of those manifold and weary grievances to which I had listened.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But I have heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I was bound by a solemn promise which I had not yet fulfilled and dared not break, or if I did, what manifold miseries might not impend over me and my devoted family!

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

My situation in life, my connections with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favour; and you should take it into further consideration, that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made you.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It was found necessary to clear the entire piers from the mass of onlookers, or else the fatalities of the night would have been increased manifold.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

And then, after my mother had lit our own lamp, she slipped suddenly down upon her knees, and he got one knee to the ground also, so that, hand-in-hand, they joined their thanks to Heaven for manifold mercies.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My own work, with its manifold arrears, took me all day to clear off; it was dark when I was able to inquire about my zoöphagous patient.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)