Main Entry: pro·lif·er·ate

Pronunciation: \prə-ˈli-fə-ˌrāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): pro·lif·er·at·ed; pro·lif·er·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 : multiplytransitive 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 \-ˌli-fə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

— pro·lif·er·a·tive \-ˈli-fə-ˌrā-tiv, -f(ə-)rə-tiv\ adjective