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Definition of proliferous - 2 dictionary results

pro⋅lif⋅er⋅ous

  [pruh-lif-er-uhs]
Use proliferous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. proliferating.
2. Botany.
a. producing new individuals by budding or the like.
b. 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.
Origin:
1645–55; < ML prōlifer bearing offspring + -ous. See prolicide, -ferous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To proliferous
pro·lif·er·ous   (prə-lĭf'ər-əs)   
adj.  

  1. Zoology Reproducing freely by means of buds and side branches, as corals do.

  2. Botany Freely producing buds or offshoots, especially from unusual places, as shoots from flowers or fruits from fruits.


[From Medieval Latin prōlifer : Latin prōlēs, prōl-, offspring; see al-2 in Indo-European roots + Latin -fer, -fer.]
pro·lif'er·ous·ly adv.
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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