pullulate

[ puhl-yuh-leyt ]
/ ˈpʌl yəˌleɪt /

verb (used without object), pul·lu·lat·ed, pul·lu·lat·ing.

to send forth sprouts, buds, etc.; germinate; sprout.
to breed, produce, or create rapidly.
to increase rapidly; multiply.
to exist abundantly; swarm; teem.
to be produced as offspring.

Origin of pullulate

1610–20; < Latin pullulātus (past participle of pullulāre to sprout), derivative of pullulus a sprout, young animal, diminutive of pullus; see pullet

OTHER WORDS FROM pullulate

pul·lu·la·tion, noun

Words nearby pullulate

pullman, pullman kitchen, pullorum disease, pullout, pullover, pullulate, pullus, pulmo, pulmo-, pulmoaortic, pulmon-

Example sentences from the Web for pullulation

  • Pullulation was forced, swift, marvellous; one could almost hear the grain grow.

    Desert Conquest |A. M. Chisholm

British Dictionary definitions for pullulation

pullulate
/ (ˈpʌljʊˌleɪt) /

verb (intr)

(of animals, etc) to breed rapidly or abundantly; teem; swarm
(of plants or plant parts) to sprout, bud, or germinate

Derived forms of pullulate

pullulation, noun

Word Origin for pullulate

C17: from Latin pullulāre to sprout, from pullulus a baby animal, from pullus young animal