proliferous

[ pruh-lif-er-uhs ]

adjective

1. proliferating.
2. Botany.
   1. producing new individuals by budding or the like.
   2. producing an organ or shoot from an organ that is itself normally the last, as a shoot or a new flower from the midst of a flower.

proliferous

/ prəˈlɪfərəs /

adjective

1. (of plants) producing many side branches or offshoots and normally reproducing vegetatively by buds or by plantlets produced in the inflorescence
2. (of certain animals) reproducing by means of buds, etc

Other Words From

• nonpro·lifer·ous adjective
• unpro·lifer·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of proliferous¹

1645–55; < Medieval Latin prōlifer bearing offspring + -ous. See prolicide, -ferous

Word History and Origins

Origin of proliferous¹

C17: from Medieval Latin prōlifer having offspring

Example Sentences

It was not one of the destructive proliferous rats of the northern hemisphere.

From Project Gutenberg

Here grew the Masarooth (Selinum palustre) with a proliferous umbel.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand, Verlot gives several cases of proliferous flowers which can be propagated by seed.

From Project Gutenberg

The calyx therefore, contrary to the nature of the common Polytrichum, is proliferous from its base.

From Project Gutenberg

The herbs I collected hereabouts were Mesomora (Cornus suecica) with a proliferous blossom.

From Project Gutenberg