proliferate

views updated May 18 2018

pro·lif·er·ate / prəˈlifəˌrāt/ • v. [intr.] increase rapidly in numbers; multiply: the science-fiction magazines which proliferated in the 1920s. ∎  (of a cell, structure, or organism) reproduce rapidly: the Mediterranean faces an ecological disaster if the seaweed continues to proliferate at its present rate. ∎  [tr.] cause (cells, tissue, structures, etc.) to reproduce rapidly: electromagnetic radiation can only proliferate cancers already present. ∎  [tr.] produce (something) in large or increasing quantities: the promise of new technology proliferating options on every handDERIVATIVES: pro·lif·er·a·tive / -ˌrātiv/ adj.pro·lif·er·a·tor / -ˌrātər/ n.

proliferate

views updated May 29 2018

proliferate (prŏ-lif-er-ayt) vb. to grow rapidly by cell division: applied particularly to malignant tumours.
proliferation n.