ˈpräpəˌgāt sometimes ˈprōp-, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin propagatus, past participle of propagare to set slips, propagate, extend, enlarge, from propages layer (of a plant), slip, offspring, from pro before + -pages (akin to Latin pangere to fix, fasten) — more at for , pact
transitive verb
1. : to cause to continue or increase by natural reproduction
propagate a breed of horses
a plant unable to propagate itself in a new region
propagate a tree vegetatively
2. : to transmit to offspring : pass along to succeeding generations
3.
a. : to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : foster the spread of : extend
this vast area … through which the Greco-Roman civilization has been propagated — A.J.Toynbee
the evil propagated itself — T.B.Macaulay
b. : to make known or familiar : foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of : publicize
propagate the Gospel
the revival meeting method of propagating the faith — W.P.Webb
the Rights of Man, rights which the French Revolution had propagated — Stringfellow Barr
c. : to reproduce or accomplish incidence of elsewhere : expand the activity, intensity, or transmission of : transmit
radio waves propagated over long distances by alternate reflections at the ground and in the ionosphere — Technical News Bulletin
sufficient to propagate the detonation through the wet earth and set off the whole line of charges — Blasters' Handbook
propagate a chain reaction
intransitive verb
1. : to have young or issue : multiply by sexual generation or by seeds, shoots, cuttings
rabbits propagate rapidly
2. : to increase in extent, numbers, or influence : extend
cause the flame to propagate along the fiber — W.E.Shinn
Synonyms: see spread