multiply

This word evokes a sense of exponential growth rather than simple addition. It suggests a geometric explosion of quantity, often associated with biological reproduction or financial accumulation, where the growth feeds back into itself to accelerate the process. In a mathematical context, it is a precise operation of scaling. In a social or environmental context, it often carries a slightly overwhelming or uncontrollable connotation, such as when pests or rumors multiply, implying a speed that is difficult to manage or stop.