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.

QUIZZES

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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Origin of proliferate

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

OTHER WORDS FROM proliferate

pro·lif·er·a·tive, adjective

Words nearby proliferate

proletarize, proletary, proleukocyte, prolicide, prolidase, proliferate, proliferating endarteritis, proliferating systematized angioendotheliomatosis, proliferation, proliferative, proliferative fasciitis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for proliferative

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, adjective

Word 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 proliferative (1 of 2)

proliferative

[ prə-lĭf′ə-rā′tĭv ]

adj.

Tending to proliferate.

Medical definitions for proliferative (2 of 2)

proliferate

[ prə-lĭf′ə-rāt′ ]

v.

To grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring.