proliferate

[ pruh-lif-uh-reyt ]
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verb (used with or without object),pro·lif·er·at·ed, pro·lif·er·at·ing.
  1. to grow or produce by multiplication of parts, as in budding or cell division, or by procreation.

  2. to increase in number or spread rapidly and often excessively.

Origin of proliferate

1
First recorded in 1870–75; prolifer(ous) + -ate1

Other words from proliferate

  • pro·lif·er·a·tive, adjective

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How to use proliferate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for proliferate

proliferate

/ (prəˈlɪfəˌreɪt) /


verb
  1. to grow or reproduce (new parts, cells, etc) rapidly

  2. to grow or increase or cause to grow or increase rapidly

Origin of proliferate

1
C19: from Medieval Latin prōlifer having offspring, from Latin prōlēs offspring + ferre to bear

Derived forms of proliferate

  • proliferative, adjective

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