proliferation
|pro-lif-er-a-tion|
C1
/prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən/
(proliferate)
rapid increase
Etymology
Etymology Information
'proliferation' originates from the Latin word 'proliferare,' where 'proles' meant 'offspring' and 'ferre' meant 'to bear.'
Historical Evolution
'proliferare' transformed into the French word 'prolifération,' and eventually became the modern English word 'proliferation.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to produce offspring,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'rapid increase or spread.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rapid increase in numbers or spread of something.
The proliferation of smartphones has changed the way we communicate.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45