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.
Origin of proliferate
First recorded in 1870–75;
prolifer(ous) +
-ate1
OTHER WORDS FROM proliferate
pro·lif·er·a·tive, adjectiveWords nearby proliferate
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
Medical definitions for proliferate
proliferate
[ prə-lĭf′ə-rāt′ ]
v.
To grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring.