noun

sextuplet

seks-TUHP-lit/seksˈtʌplət/

A set of six related units.

The six newborn siblings form a sextuplet around their mother's bed.

An intimate postpartum family portrait: a mother cradles one focal newborn while five other equally tiny newborns lie in individual bassinets drawn closely around her bed.

Etymology

sextLatinsixth

+uplLatin-fold

+etEnglishgroup or group member

The components meaning “sixth” and “-fold” underlie sextuple, “sixfold.” Sextuplet first named a combination of six things; following the pattern of triplet, it also names one of six children born together.

More examples

Each sextuplet in the pattern contains six colored dots.
The drummer fits a sextuplet into the space of four notes.
The sextuplets share a birthday but have very different personalities.

Forms

sextuplet · sextuplets

sextuple adjective — Six times as many or as much.

Similar words

sextet: Often describes six performers, especially musicians, acting as a group.
group: Can contain any number of members, not necessarily six.