proliferate
[ pruh-lif-uh-reyt ]
/ prəˈlɪf əˌreɪt /
verb (used with or without object), pro·lif·er·at·ed, pro·lif·er·at·ing.
to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation.
to increase in number or spread rapidly and often excessively.
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Origin of proliferate
First recorded in 1870–75; prolifer(ous) + -ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM proliferate
pro·lif·er·a·tive, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for proliferate
British Dictionary definitions for proliferate
proliferate
/ (prəˈlɪfəˌreɪt) /
verb
to grow or reproduce (new parts, cells, etc) rapidly
to grow or increase or cause to grow or increase rapidly
Derived forms of proliferate
proliferative, adjectiveWord Origin for proliferate
C19: from Medieval Latin prōlifer having offspring, from Latin prōlēs offspring + ferre to bear
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for proliferate
proliferate
[ prə-lĭf′ə-rāt′ ]
v.
To grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.