propagation

noun

prop·​a·​ga·​tion ˌprä-pə-ˈgā-shən 

: the act or action of propagating: such as

a

: increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers

b

: the spreading of something (such as a belief) abroad or into new regions

c

: enlargement or extension (as of a crack) in a solid body

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Seed collecting basics, two classes taught by Descanso Gardens’ plant propagation horticulturist, Frank Obregon, about how to collect seeds and plant your own spring garden, offered from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. —Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2022

In California, the ladybugs Koebele had sent were devouring every Icerya on the orange tree Coquillett had enclosed inside the propagation tent, so in early April of 1889, Coquillett decided to open one side of the tent to release the swarming ladybugs. —Martin J. Kernan, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2022

Visitors can even take classes on floral design, pruning, propagation, and more. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2023

He was assigned to figure out how to overcome a challenging propagation environment so that customers could receive their data reliably. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Nov. 2022

Despite vegetative propagation, aka cloning, modern V. vinifera varieties have a crazy amount of diversity both in their genes and morphology, or appearance. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2019

Farming creates the potential for virus spread, propagation, and transmission to humans, says veterinary virologist Conrad Freuling of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. —Bydennis Normile, science.org, 29 Mar. 2023

Lapham's latest hobby is plant propagation. —Kim Palmer, Star Tribune, 19 Feb. 2021

Skeptics say such fantastic claims distract from the more concrete problems AI is already creating, such as the propagation of sexist and racist biases. —Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

propagation

noun

prop·​a·​ga·​tion ˌpräp-ə-ˈgā-shən 

: the act or process of propagating: as

a

: multiplication (as of a kind of living thing) in number of individuals

b

: the spreading of something (as a belief) abroad or into new regions

Medical Definition

propagation

noun

prop·​a·​ga·​tion ˌpräp-ə-ˈgā-shən 

: the act or action of propagating: as

a

: increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers

propagation of a pure culture of bacteria

b

: the spreading or transmission of something

propagation of a nerve impulse