Proliferate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pɹəˈlɪf.ɜː(ɹ).eɪt/
• US IPA: /pɹoʊˈlɪfəɹeɪt/

Origin

From Latin proles ("offspring") + ferre ("to bear") + -ate

Full definition of proliferate

Verb

1. To increase in number or spread rapidly.The flowers proliferated rapidly all spring.
• 2006, w, Internal Combustion Chapter 2, But through the oligopoly, charcoal fuel proliferated throughout London's trades and industries.  By the 1200s, brewers and bakers, tilemakers, glassblowers, pottery producers, and a range of other craftsmen all became hour-to-hour consumers of charcoal.

Related terms

• proliferation
• proliferative
• proliferous
• prolific