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proliferate

 - 4 dictionary results

pro⋅lif⋅er⋅ate

  [pruh-lif-uh-reyt]
Use proliferate in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), verb (used with object), -at⋅ed, -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:
1870–75; prolifer(ous) + -ate 1

Related forms:
pro⋅lif⋅er⋅a⋅tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To proliferate
pro·lif·er·ate   (prə-lĭf'ə-rāt')   
v.   pro·lif·er·at·ed, pro·lif·er·at·ing, pro·lif·er·ates

v.   intr.

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

  2. To increase or spread at a rapid rate: fears that nuclear weapons might proliferate.

v.   tr.
To cause to grow or increase rapidly.

[Back-formation from proliferation, the act of proliferating, from French prolifération, from prolifère, procreative : Latin prōlēs, prōl-, offspring; see proliferous + Latin -fer, -fer.]
pro·lif'er·a'tion n., pro·lif'er·a'tive adj., pro·lif'er·a'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pro·lif·er·ate
Pronunciation: pr&-'lif-&-"rAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -at·ed; -at·ing
intransitive senses
: to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring proliferate transitive senses
: to cause to grow byproliferating
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

proliferate pro·lif·er·ate (prə-lĭf'ə-rāt')
v. pro·lif·er·at·ed, pro·lif·er·at·ing, pro·lif·er·ates
To grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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