proliferate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb grow rapidly
    • Pizza parlors proliferate in this area
  2. verb cause to grow or increase rapidly
    • We must not proliferate nuclear arms

WordNet

Pro*lif"er*ate transitive verb
Etymology
L. proles offspring + ferre to bear.
Definitions
  1. (Biol.) To produce or form cells; especially, to produce cells rapidly.
  2. (Zoöl.) To produce zooids by budding.

Webster 1913