proliferate
gb/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/ us/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
C1
Kiingereza
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
C1
process
1
increase rapidly in number
If something proliferates, it increases very fast or spreads to many places.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[things] proliferate (in/around/throughout/across [place])
Kosa la kawaida:
Often used intransitively ("problems proliferated"); learners sometimes force a direct object where "spread" or "increase" would be more natural.
Visawe
spread (Emphasizes reaching more places or people.)
|
multiply (Emphasizes becoming more numerous.)
|
mushroom (Suggests sudden, often surprising growth.)
|
increase (More general and less vivid.)
Vinyume
decline (Become fewer or less common over time.)
|
dwindle (Decrease gradually to a small number.)
|
die out (Disappear completely after declining.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
proliferate rapidly
|proliferate quickly
|proliferate across the country
|proliferate throughout the city
|proliferate online
|proliferate on social media
|proliferate in recent years
|proliferate in number
|proliferate in the market
|proliferate in response to demand
Mada
society
|business
|technology
|media
|science
Mifano
- Cheap imitations began to proliferate online within weeks of the product launch.
- As the city expanded, informal settlements proliferated on the outskirts.
- Misinformation can proliferate quickly during a crisis.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- In spring, weeds proliferate in the garden.
- Rumors proliferated after the announcement.
Kitenzi
technical
C2
process
2
cells multiply and grow
In biology, if cells proliferate, they make more cells and increase in number.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[cells/tissue] proliferate (in [place/conditions])
Kosa la kawaida:
In medical contexts, "proliferate" does not mean "spread to other organs" (that is often described as "metastasize").
Visawe
multiply (Common general word for increasing in number.)
|
divide (Highlights the mechanism of cell division.)
Vinyume
differentiate (In cell biology, stop dividing and become specialized.)
|
degenerate (Deteriorate rather than grow.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
cells proliferate
|tumor cells proliferate
|proliferate in culture
|proliferate rapidly
|proliferate uncontrollably
|proliferate in response to signals
|proliferate under stress
Mada
biology
|medicine
|health
|science
Mifano
- Under the microscope, the cells proliferated steadily over several days.
- The drug is designed to stop cancer cells from proliferating.
- In damaged tissue, new cells proliferate to repair the wound.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The cells proliferated in the lab dish.
Kitenzi
formal
C2
action
3
cause something to increase fast
To proliferate something is to make it increase or spread quickly.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone/something] proliferates [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
This transitive use is much less common than the intransitive one; in everyday English, people often prefer "spread" or "increase" instead.
Visawe
spread (More common; focuses on distribution rather than sheer increase.)
|
fuel (Suggests helping something grow indirectly.)
|
promote (Suggests actively encouraging growth or adoption.)
Vinyume
curb (Act to limit growth or spread.)
|
contain (Keep from spreading beyond limits.)
|
reduce (Make the amount or number smaller.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
proliferate myths
|proliferate misinformation
|proliferate copies
|proliferate weapons
|proliferate content
|proliferate opportunities
Mada
business
|politics
|media
Mifano
- The platform’s design can unintentionally proliferate false stories.
- Officials introduced new rules to prevent companies from proliferating risky financial products.
- Cheap printing helped proliferate political pamphlets across the region.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The new app helped proliferate fake reviews.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
proliferate
IPA
GB/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
US/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt/
Silabi na mkazo
pro - lif - er - ate (silabi 4)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lif)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: proliferate
- 3rd Person Singular: proliferates
- Present Participle: proliferating
- Past: proliferated
Familia ya neno
Forms
proliferates
verb
proliferating
verb
proliferated
verb
Core family
proliferation
noun C1
Related words
prolific
adjective C1
prolifically
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
nonproliferation
noun C2
Advanced or less common
proliferative
adjective
antiproliferative
adjective
Semi
proliferate like rabbits
1/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt lˈaɪk ɹˈæbɪts/
idiom
informal
increase very quickly in number
To grow in number very fast.
Mifano
- In the warm weather, mosquitoes proliferate like rabbits near the lake.
- Once the discount code leaked, copycat websites proliferated like rabbits.
proliferate like wildfire
1/pɹoʊlˈɪfɚˌeɪt lˈaɪk wˈaɪldfˌaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
spread extremely quickly
To spread very fast.
Mifano
- The rumor proliferated like wildfire after the video was posted.
- During the outage, incorrect instructions proliferated like wildfire in group chats.