proliferative
|pro-lif-er-a-tive|
🇺🇸
/proʊˈlɪfərətɪv/
🇬🇧
/prəˈlɪfərətɪv/
producing or growing rapidly
Etymology
'proliferative' originates from Latin, specifically the New/Medieval-Latin word 'proliferativus', where 'proles' meant 'offspring' and the element 'fer(‑)/ferre' meant 'to bear' or 'to carry'.
'proliferative' changed from Late/New Latin 'proliferare'/'proliferativus' (meaning to produce offspring or offspring-bearing) into English via the verb 'proliferate' (17th century) and later the adjective 'proliferative'.
Initially it meant 'producing offspring' or 'offspring-bearing', but over time it evolved to the broader modern meaning 'producing or increasing rapidly; abundant in production', including non-biological senses (ideas, items, cells).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or characterized by rapid and often excessive production or spread (e.g., cells, ideas, or items); producing many new parts or elements.
The biopsy showed a proliferative lesion with an unusually high rate of cell growth.
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Adjective 2
(Medical) Marked by or involving proliferation of tissues or cells; promoting formation of new tissue (often used of pathological growth).
Proliferative retinopathy can lead to vision loss if abnormal new vessels continue to form.
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Last updated: 2025/10/17 05:13