rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymultitudeLarge group or number
noun

multitude

MUHL-tih-tood/ˈmʌltɪtuːd/

A very large group or number of people or things.

A multitude of colorful buttons spills from the overturned jar.

A very large heap of small, colorful buttons spilling from an overturned plain jar, with many individual buttons clearly visible around the edges.
Etymology
multiLatinmuch, many
+tudeLatinstate or quality

“Many” plus a quality-forming ending gives the idea of numerousness. The Latin noun also meant a crowd or great number, treating many individuals collectively as one mass.

In context

Libranima386:14
Fall into line, Egypt! Form ranks, Galilee! A movement began in the darkness. The immense multitude appeared to form in a column.
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame - Hugo (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 2 of 2

More examples

  • The new software offers a multitude of useful features.
  • Multitudes of tourists visit the city every summer.
  • We face a multitude of problems after the storm.

Forms

multitude · multitudes

multitudinous adjective — Existing in very large numbers.

Similar words

crowd
Usually means people gathered together, rather than numerous separate things.
host
Likewise means a large number, often suggesting an impressive array.