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propagate

Pronunciation: /ˈprɒpəgeɪt/

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Definition of propagate

verb

[with object]
  • 1breed specimens of (a plant or animal) by natural processes from the parent stock:try propagating your own houseplants from cuttings
  • [no object] (of a plant or animal) reproduce by natural processes:the plant propagates freely from stem cuttings
  • 2spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely:the French propagated the idea that the English were drunkards
  • 3 [with adverbial of direction] (with reference to motion, light, sound, etc.) transmit or be transmitted in a particular direction or through a medium: [with object]:electromagnetic effects can be propagated at a finite velocity only through material substances

Derivatives

propagation

Pronunciation: /-ˈgeɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

propagative

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin propagat- 'multiplied from layers or shoots', from the verb propagare; related to propago 'young shoot' (from a base meaning 'fix')

Spelling help

Spell propagate and the related word propagation with an a after the second p.

propagate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of propagate in the US English dictionary

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