{
    "term": "multitude",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "an extremely large number of things or people",
            "sensetop": "multitude (of something/somebody)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a multitude of possibilities"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a multitude of birds"
                },
                {
                    "text": "These elements can be combined in a multitude of different ways."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The region attracts tourists in their multitudes."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The library offers a whole multitude of books for young readers."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the mass of ordinary people",
            "labels": "(sometimes disapproving)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It was an elite that believed its task was to enlighten the multitude."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to feed the starving multitudes"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to ensure the multitude is/are fed and entertained"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a large crowd of people",
            "labels": "(literary)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He preached to the assembled multitude."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "throng"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to hide the real situation or facts when these are not good or pleasant",
            "labels": "(often humorous)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's a shabby old sofa but cushions and throws can hide a multitude of sins."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈmʌltɪtjuːd/",
                "audio": "mu/multitude/multitude__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈmʌltɪtuːd/",
                "audio": "mu/multitude/multitude__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: via Old French from Latin multitudo, from multus ‘many’."
}