A multidimensional database is a data cube that provides multidimensional views of business data. Multidimensional databases are OLAP servers that enable you to easily and selectively extract and view data from different points of view. Multidimensional databases consider each data attribute as a separate dimension and allow you to create hierarchies within a dimension.
OLAP (On-Line Analytical Processing) designates a category of applications and technologies that allow the collection, storage, manipulation, and reproduction of multidimensional data, with the goal of analysis. OLAP provides for the fast analysis of multidimensional shared information.