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Definition of propagate - 6 dictionary results

prop⋅a⋅gate

  [prop-uh-geyt] verb, -gat⋅ed, -gat⋅ing.
Use propagate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to cause (an organism) to multiply by any process of natural reproduction from the parent stock.
2. to reproduce (itself, its kind, etc.), as an organism does.
3. to transmit (hereditary features or elements) to, or through, offspring.
4. to spread (a report, doctrine, practice, etc.) from person to person; disseminate.
5. to cause to increase in number or amount.
6. to create (an effect) at a distance, as by electromagnetic waves, compression waves, etc., traveling through space or a physical medium; transmit: to propagate sound.
–verb (used without object)
7. to multiply by any process of natural reproduction, as organisms; breed.
8. to increase in extent, as a structural flaw: The crack will propagate only to this joint.
9. (of electromagnetic waves, compression waves, etc.) to travel through space or a physical medium.
Origin:
1560–70; < L propāgātus (ptp. of propāgāre to reproduce (a plant) by cuttings, spread for sprouting, propagate, enlarge), equiv. to propāg(ēs) something set out, scion, slip (pro- pro- 1 + pāg-, base of pangere to fasten + -ēs n. suffix) + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
prop⋅a⋅ga⋅tive, prop⋅a⋅ga⋅to⋅ry  [prop-uh-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective
prop⋅a⋅ga⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To propagate
prop·a·gate   (prŏp'ə-gāt')   
v.   prop·a·gat·ed, prop·a·gat·ing, prop·a·gates

v.   tr.
  1. To cause (an organism) to multiply or breed.
  2. To breed (offspring).
  3. To transmit (characteristics) from one generation to another.
  4. To cause to extend to a broader area or larger number; spread: missionaries who propagate the faith.
  5. To make widely known; publicize: propagate a rumor.
  6. Physics To cause (a wave, for example) to move in some direction or through a medium; transmit.
v.   intr.
  1. To have offspring; multiply.
  2. To extend to a broader area or larger number; spread.
  3. Physics To move through a medium.

[Latin prōpāgāre, prōpāgāt-; see pag- in Indo-European roots.]
prop'a·ga·ble (-gə-bəl) adj., prop'a·ga'tive adj., prop'a·ga'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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Propagate

Prop"a*gate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propagated; p. pr. & vb. n. Propagating.] [L. propagatus, p. p. of propagare to propagate, akin to propages, propago, a layer of a plant, slip, shoot. See Pro-, and cf. Pact, Prop, Prune, v. t.]

1. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; -- applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree.

2. To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light.

3. To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion.

The infection was propagated insensibly. --De Foe.

4. To multiply; to increase. [Obs.]

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, Which thou wilt propagate. --Shak.

5. To generate; to produce.

Motion propagated motion, and life threw off life. --De Quincey.

Syn: To multiply; continue; increase; spread; diffuse; disseminate; promote.

Propagate

Prop"a*gate\, v. i. To have young or issue; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants; as, rabbits propagate rapidly.

No need that thou Should'st propagate, already infinite. --Milton.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : propagate
Spanish: propagar(se),
German: verbreiten,
Japanese: 宣伝する
More Translations »

Main Entry: prop·a·gate
Pronunciation: 'präp-&-"gAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -gat·ed; -gat·ing
transitive senses
1 : to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
2 : to cause to spread or to be transmitted propagateintransitive senses
: to multiply sexually or asexually —prop·a·ga·ble /'präp-&-g&-b&l/ adjective —prop·a·ga·tive /-"gAt-iv/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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propagate prop·a·gate (prŏp'ə-gāt')
v. prop·a·gat·ed, prop·a·gat·ing, prop·a·gates

  1. To cause an organism to multiply or breed.
  2. To breed offspring.
  3. To transmit characteristics from one generation to another.
  4. To cause to move in some direction or through a medium, such as a wave or a nerve impulse.

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