French Conversation · Level 136
30 words
French word
proliférer
Pronunciation
IPA/pʁolifeʁe/
Meaning
- verbmultiply
Example
Les cellules prolifèrent rapidement après la blessure.
The cells multiply rapidly after the injury.
More examples
Les fausses informations prolifèrent dans les commentaires.
False information proliferates in the comments.
Core concept
A small population or set of cells rapidly expanding into many more units.
Common phrases
proliférer sur les réseaux sociaux
proliferate on social media
proliférer sur Internet
proliferate on the internet
proliférer dans les commentaires
proliferate in the comments
Similar words
se multiplier: Grow quickly in number, often doubling.
augmenter: Increase in amount or rate, usually with a stated figure.
se propager: Spread among many people or across many places, like a disease or rumor.
se répandre: Spread widely and reach surrounding areas, like liquid or information.
Definition in French
Devenir très nombreux en peu de temps, souvent par reproduction ou par diffusion rapide.
Word origin
French proliférer comes from Late Latin proliferare, formed from proles, meaning offspring, and ferre, meaning to bear or carry.
Usage tips
- Proliférer is intransitive, so the thing that increases is the subject: Les cellules prolifèrent, not a direct object.
Other meanings
- breedverb
Opposites
- diminuerdecreaseverb
- se raréfierbecome scarceverb
Related words
- proliférationproliferationnoun