times

Everyday

1. Times tells how many copies of a number are put together: «5 times 6» means 5 × 6. tree →
2. Times tells how often something happens: «I rang 4 times». tree →
3. Times can mean periods in history or life: «in old times», «hard times». tree →
4. To time something is to measure how long it takes: «She times the race». tree →
5. (casual) «Times» can mean a good or bad experience: «good times!»; «loads of times» means very often. tree →
6. (rude) «How many times do I have to tell you?» shows anger, not a real question. tree →
7. (formal) Exams say «multiplied by», «the product of», «-fold» («threefold»), «on N occasions» and «a multiple of». tree →

In the lessons

«three times as many»: three copies of another count; the sign × is read «times»; times tables list products; phrases: «times as many as», «times tables», «many times», «at times» (sometimes), «three times a day», «behind the times» (old-fashioned); in casual talk «good times», «loads of times», «a million times» (very often, not really a million); in rough talk «how many times do I gotta tell ya?»; in the exam voice «multiplied by», «the product of», «on four occasions», «increase threefold»

Examples

• Ben has 3 times as many cards as Zoe. tree →
• Mia rang the bell 4 times. tree →
• What is 5 times 6? tree →
• I know my 9 times table. tree →
• Take the medicine three times a day. tree →
• In old times, people wrote with feathers. tree →
• At times the wind was very strong. tree →
• I've told you a million times, it's 7 times 8 is 56. tree →
• How many times do I gotta say it? 12, not 13! tree →
• Good times, mate, see ya next week. tree →
• Compute the product of 7 and 8. tree →
• The bell was sounded on four occasions; state the number of rings. tree →
• Those times were not like ours. tree →

Note

«K times as many as N» is N × K. Trap: «3 times more» is read as × 3 here, and «N times» alone may just count events. «once» = 1 time, «twice» = 2 times, «thrice» = 3 times. «a million times» in talk means very often, not 1,000,000. «the product of» and «multiplied by» in an exam mean times.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: "Three times in the year" refers to the three pilgrimage festivals, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, when Israel went up to appear before God. In the Psalms and Nehemiah, "times" can also be seasons of trouble or fixed appointed times, such as for offering wood. In the primary lessons: «three times as many»: three copies of another count; the sign × is read «times»; times tables list products; phrases: «times as many as», «times tables», «many times», «at times» (sometimes), «three times a day», «behind the times» (old-fashioned); in casual talk «good times», «loads of times», «a million times» (very often, not really a million); in rough talk «how many times do I gotta tell ya?»; in the exam voice «multiplied by», «the product of», «on four occasions», «increase threefold»

Examples

• Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year. (Torah EXO.23.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. (Torah EXO.23.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. (Torah EXO.34.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble? (Writings PSA.10.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? (Writings JOB.24.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. (Writings NEH.13.31, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«K times as many as N» is N × K. Trap: «3 times more» is read as × 3 here, and «N times» alone may just count events. «once» = 1 time, «twice» = 2 times, «thrice» = 3 times. «a million times» in talk means very often, not 1,000,000. «the product of» and «multiplied by» in an exam mean times.