propagate

verb

prop·​a·​gate ˈprä-pə-ˌgāt 

propagated; propagating

transitive verb

1

: to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction

2

: to pass along to offspring

3

a

: to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : extend

b

: to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (something, such as an idea or belief) : publicize

c

: to transmit (something, such as sound or light) through a medium

intransitive verb

1

: to multiply sexually or asexually

2

: increase, extend

3

: to travel through space or a material

—used of wave energy (such as light, sound, or radio waves)

propagative

ˈprä-pə-ˌgā-tiv 

adjective

propagator

ˈprä-pə-ˌgā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

The origins of propagate are firmly rooted in the field of horticulture. The word is a 16th century Latin borrowing, ultimately from the verb propagare, which means "to set (onto a plant) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting." The word's meaning quickly extended from the realm of the farm and field to less material kinds of reproduction, such as the spreading of ideas and beliefs. The similarity between propagate and propaganda is not coincidental; that word also comes to us from propagare, although it took a more circuitous route.

Synonyms

• breed
• multiply
• procreate
• reproduce

Examples of propagate in a Sentence

We are discovering new ways to propagate plants without seeds.

He propagated the apple tree by grafting.

The plants failed to propagate.

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s also been credited with propagating Hindu nationalism both in India and the diaspora. —Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 17 Apr. 2024

Since any collision would not propagate beyond the bridge, connecting two Ethernets with a bridge would immediately double the length limit of a single Ethernet cable alone. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Apr. 2024

But by turning, then this behavior being copied by others, the change of density, the change of turning, is propagated extremely rapidly. —Quanta Magazine, 28 Mar. 2024

An Accessible Writer Professor Kahneman propagated his findings with an appealing writing style, using illustrative vignettes with which even lay readers could engage. —Robert D. Hershey Jr., New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

At one time, wildlife biologists were under the impression that eastern turkeys needed some 10,000 contiguous acres of forestland to survive and propagate. —M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 27 Mar. 2024

The petunias can also be propagated, and the seeds collected and planted. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024

These grasses take advantage of rare bursts of rain to propagate, then die, forming a carpet of fire fuel on the desert floor. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024

But some researchers would prefer to see the species propagate naturally, expressing concern that wolverines will die during the reintroduction process, while there’s no guarantee of success. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin propagatus, past participle of propagare to set slips, propagate, from propages slip, offspring, from pro- before + pangere to fasten — more at pro-, pact

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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Kids Definition

propagate

verb

prop·​a·​gate ˈpräp-ə-ˌgāt 

propagated; propagating

1

: to have or cause to have offspring : multiply sense 1

ways to propagate plants without seeds

propagate an apple by grafting

2

: to cause (as an idea or belief) to spread out and affect a greater number or wider area

propagate a faith

Medical Definition

propagate

verb

prop·​a·​gate ˈpräp-ə-ˌgāt 

propagated; propagating

transitive verb

1

: to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction

2

: to cause to spread or to be transmitted

intransitive verb

: to multiply sexually or asexually

propagable

ˈpräp-ə-gə-bəl 

adjective

propagative

-ˌgāt-iv 

adjective