Host vs. Multitude — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 24, 2023
Host refers to a person who receives or entertains guests or a large group of people or things; Multitude means a large number of people or things.
Difference Between Host and Multitude
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Host and Multitude, though distinct in meaning, can converge when describing quantity. Host is a versatile term with multiple meanings, one being a person who entertains guests, another being a large number or array of people, items, or things. It represents both an individual role of welcoming and entertaining and a collective entity comprising multiple units. Multitude, on the other hand, consistently refers to a large number or collection of people or things, emphasizing abundance and diversity, representing quantity and variety without implying any role of entertaining or welcoming.
While Host carries an implication of responsibility, providing, or entertaining, Multitude simply implies numerosity and variety. A host is expected to cater, entertain, and accommodate, reflecting a proactive and engaging role, whether it be an individual welcoming guests or a server accommodating websites. A multitude does not carry any such implication of responsibility or provision; it merely denotes the presence of a large number of entities, emphasizing the scale and diversity of the collection.
Host in its singular form often implies a singular entity assuming a role of provision or accommodation, whether it be a person, a computer server, or another entity serving as a base or provider. Multitude, on the other hand, inherently implies plurality, denoting a large collection of diverse entities without any implication of provision or accommodation. It portrays abundance and diversity without attributing any role or function of hosting or entertaining.
Host can also imply a synergistic relationship between the provider and the recipient, such as a person hosting guests or a computer hosting files. It denotes a mutual interaction where the host provides, and the guests or entities utilize the provision. Multitude does not imply any such relationship or interaction; it denotes scale and diversity without implying any mutual exchange or provision. It represents the mere presence of numerous entities without any implication of hosting or interaction.
In conclusion, while Host can depict both an individual role of providing and a collective entity of multiple units, emphasizing interaction and provision, Multitude consistently represents a large number of diverse entities, emphasizing quantity and variety without any implication of hosting or interaction.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Person entertaining guests; or large group.
A large number of people or things.
Part of Speech
Noun (can also be a verb)
Noun
Contextual Usage
Entertainment, hospitality; large assembly.
Abundance, diversity, large assembly.
Connotative Nuance
Responsibility, provision, interaction.
Numerosity, variety, abundance.
Synonyms
Presenter, entertainer; array.
Crowd, array, plethora.
Compare with Definitions
Host
One who receives or entertains guests in a social or official capacity.
Multitude
A person who receives or entertains guests.
The host warmly welcomed the guests to the party.
Host
A person who manages an inn or hotel.
Multitude
An organism in which another lives parasitically.
The tree acts as a host to various fungi.
Host
One that furnishes facilities and resources for a function or event
The city chosen as host for the Olympic Games.
Multitude
The presenter of a television or radio program.
The host introduced the next segment with enthusiasm.
Host
The emcee or interviewer on a radio or television program.
Multitude
A large number of people or things.
A host of stars attended the premiere.
Host
An organism on which or in which another organism lives.
Multitude
Multitude is a term for a group of people who cannot be classed under any other distinct category, except for their shared fact of existence. Though its use dates back to antiquity, the term first entered into the lexicon of political philosophy when it was used by figures like Machiavelli, Hobbes, and most notably, Spinoza.
Host
A cell that has been infected by a virus or other infective agent.
Multitude
A very great number.
Host
(Medicine) The recipient of a transplanted tissue or organ.
Multitude
The masses; the populace
The concerns of the multitude.
Host
A computer or other device providing data or services that a remote computer can access by means of a network or modem.
Multitude
A great amount or number, often of people; abundance, myriad, profusion.
Host
A computer that is connected to a TCP/IP network such as the internet.
Multitude
The mass of ordinary people; the masses, the populace.
Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them.
Host
An army.
Multitude
A great number of persons collected together; a numerous collection of persons; a crowd; an assembly.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them.
Host
A great number; a multitude.
Multitude
A great number of persons or things, regarded collectively; as, the book will be read by a multitude of people; the multitude of stars; a multitude of cares.
It is a fault in a multitude of preachers, that they utterly neglect method in their harangues.
A multitude of flowersAs countless as the stars on high.
Host
The consecrated bread or wafer of the Eucharist.
Multitude
The state of being many; numerousness.
They came as grasshoppers for multitude.
Host
To serve as host to or at
"the garden party he had hosted last spring" (Saturday Review).
Multitude
A large indefinite number;
A battalion of ants
A multitude of TV antennas
A plurality of religions
Host
To provide software that offers data or services, hardware, or both over a computer network.
Multitude
A large gathering of people
Host
One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially.
A good host is always considerate of the guest’s needs.
Multitude
The common people generally;
Separate the warriors from the mass
Power to the people
Host
One that provides a facility for an event.
Multitude
A computer connected to a network that provides services or resources.
The host computer was overloaded with requests.
Host
A person or organization responsible for running an event.
Our company is host of the annual conference this year.
Host
A moderator or master of ceremonies for a performance.
The host was terrible, but the acts themselves were good.
Host
Any computer attached to a network.
Host
(ecology) A cell or organism which harbors another organism or biological entity, usually a parasite.
Viruses depend on the host that they infect in order to be able to reproduce.
Host
An organism bearing certain genetic material, with respect to its cells.
The so-called junk DNA is known, so far, to provide no apparent benefit to its host.
Host
A paid male companion offering conversation and in some cases sex, as in certain types of bar in Japan.
Host
A multitude of people arrayed as an army; used also in religious senses, as: Heavenly host (of angels)
Host
A large number of items; a large inventory.
The dealer stocks a host of parts for my Model A.
Host
(Christianity) The consecrated bread of the Eucharist.
Host
To perform the role of a host.
Our company will host the annual conference this year.
I was terrible at hosting that show.
I’ll be hosting tonight. I hope I’m not terrible.
Host
To lodge at an inn.
Host
To run software made available to a remote user or process.
Kremvax hosts a variety of services.
Host
The consecrated wafer, believed to be the body of Christ, which in the Mass is offered as a sacrifice; also, the bread before consecration.
Host
An army; a number of men gathered for war.
A host so great as covered all the field.
Host
Any great number or multitude; a throng.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.
All at once I saw a crowd,A host, of golden daffodils.
Host
One who receives or entertains another, whether gratuitously or for compensation; one from whom another receives food, lodging, or entertainment; a landlord.
Time is like a fashionable host,That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand.
Host
Any animal or plant affording lodgment or subsistence to a parasitic or commensal organism. Thus a tree is a host of an air plant growing upon it.
Host
To give entertainment to.
Host
To lodge at an inn; to take up entertainment.
Host
A person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
Host
A vast multitude
Host
An animal or plant that nourishes and supports a parasite; the host does not benefit and is often harmed by the association
Host
A person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers)
Host
Archaic terms for army
Host
Any organization that provides resources and facilities for a function or event;
Atlanta was chosen to be host for the Olympic Games
Host
(medicine) recipient of transplanted tissue or organ from a donor
Host
The owner or manager of an inn
Host
A technical name for the bread used in the service of Mass or Holy Communion
Host
(computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network
Host
Be the host of or for;
We hosted 4 couples last night
Host
A person who receives or entertains guests.
The host warmly welcomed the guests to the party.
Host
An organism in which another lives parasitically.
The tree acts as a host to various fungi.
Host
A computer connected to a network that provides services or resources.
The host computer was overloaded with requests.
Host
The presenter of a television or radio program.
The host introduced the next segment with enthusiasm.
Host
A large number of people or things.
A host of stars attended the premiere.
Common Curiosities
Does Host always refer to a person?
No, Host can refer to a person, an organism, a computer, or represent a large group of people or things.
Can Host also be a verb?
Yes, Host can also be a verb, meaning to receive or entertain guests or to provide space or resources.
Does Multitude imply variety?
Yes, Multitude often implies a variety or a great abundance of people or things.
Does a Host have a responsibility to entertain or provide?
Yes, a Host typically has the responsibility to entertain, accommodate, or provide for guests or users.
Can Host represent a mutual relationship between provider and recipient?
Yes, Host can imply a mutual, interactive relationship between the provider and the recipient.
Does Multitude only refer to people?
No, Multitude can refer to a large number of people or things, implying abundance and variety.
Is Multitude synonymous with abundance?
Yes, Multitude is synonymous with abundance, representing a large quantity of people or things.
Does Multitude imply any responsibility or provision?
No, Multitude does not imply any responsibility, provision, or interaction; it denotes quantity and variety.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
