v.
Pronunciation: pr ə - ' li-f ə - ˌ r ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -at · ed ; -at · ing
Etymology: back-formation from proliferation, from French prolifération, from proliférer to proliferate, from prolifère reproducing freely, from Latin proles + -fer -ferous
Date: 1873
intransitive verb
1 : to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring
2 : to increase in number as if by proliferating : MULTIPLY
transitive verb
1 : to cause to grow by proliferating
2 : to cause to increase in number or extent as if by proliferating
– pro · lif · er · a · tion \ - ˌ li-f ə - ' r ā -sh ə n \ noun
– pro · lif · er · a · tive \ - ' li-f ə - ˌ r ā -tiv, -f( ə -)r ə -tiv \ adjective