manifold

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English manifold, from Old English maniġfeald (“manifold, various, varied, complicated, numerous, abundant, plural”), from Proto-Germanic *managafalþaz, equivalent to many +‎ -fold. Cognate with Middle High German manecvalt (“manifold”), Icelandic margfaldr (“multiple”). Compare also German mannigfaltig (“various”), Dutch menigvoudig (“various”), Danish mangefold (“multiple”), Swedish mångfald (“diversity”).

Noun

manifold (plural manifolds)

  1. (now historical) A copy made by the manifold writing process.
  2. (mechanics) A pipe fitting or similar device that connects multiple inputs or outputs.
  3. (US, regional, in the plural) The third stomach of a ruminant animal, an omasum.
    • 1830 Anson, Somerset Co. Me., accessed 12 June 2007
      My conjecture being right he will find the third stomach, or manifolds, the seat of difficulty.
  4. (mathematics) A topological space that looks locally like the "ordinary" Euclidean space and is Hausdorff.
  5. (computer graphics) A polygon mesh representing the continuous, closed surface of a solid object
Usage notes

In mathematics, a manifold of some number of dimensions n is termed an n-manifold (e.g. 3-manifold).

Derived terms
Translations

Adjective

manifold (comparative more manifold, superlative most manifold)

  1. Various in kind or quality, diverse.
    The manifold meanings of the simple English word 'set' are infamous among dictionary makers.
  2. Many in number, numerous; multiple, multiplied.
  3. Complicated.
  4. Exhibited at diverse times or in various ways.
    c1384 ... the manyfold grace of God. — I Petre 4:10 (Wycliffe's Bible)
    1611 The manifold wisdom of God. — Ephesians 3:10. (w:King James Bible)

Antonyms

Derived terms
Translations

Adverb

manifold (comparative more manifold, superlative most manifold)

  1. Many times; repeatedly.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.xii:
      when his daughter deare he does behold, / Her dearely doth imbrace, and kisseth manifold.

Etymology 2

From Middle English manifolden, from Old English maniġfealdan (“to multiply, abound, increase, extend, reward”), equivalent to many +‎ -fold. Cognate with Middle High German manecvalten, Icelandic margfalda (“to multiply”), Swedish mångfaldiga (“to manifold, reproduce”).

Verb

manifold (third-person singular simple present manifolds, present participle manifolding, simple past and past participle manifolded)

  1. (transitive) To make manifold; multiply.
  2. (transitive, printing) To multiply or reproduce impressions of by a single operation.
Translations
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