[pro.lif.er.ate] vb -at.ed ; -at.ing [back-formation fr. proliferation, fr. F proliferation, fr. proliferer to proliferate, fr. prolifere reproducing freely, fr. L proles + -fer -ferous] vi (1873) 1: to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring
2: to increase in number as if by proliferating: multiply ~ vt: to cause to grow by proliferating -- pro.lif.er.a.tion n -- pro.lif.er.a.tive adj