PROLIFERATE

verb (-ated; -ating) Etymology: back-formation from proliferation, from French prolifération, from proliférer to ~, from prolifère reproducing freely, from Latin proles + -fer -ferous Date: 1873 intransitive verb to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring, to increase in number as if by proliferating ; multiply , transitive verb to cause to grow by proliferating, to cause to increase in number or extent as if by proliferating, proliferation noun proliferative adjective