propagate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb transmit from one generation to the next
    • propagate these characteristics
  2. verb travel through the air
    • sound and light propagate in this medium
  3. verb transmit
    • propagate sound or light through air
  4. verb become distributed or widespread
    spread.
    • the infection spread
    • Optimism spread among the population
  5. verb transmit or cause to broaden or spread
    • This great civilization was propagated throughout the land
  6. verb cause to become widely known
    circularise; disseminate; distribute; broadcast; spread; circularize; disperse; pass around; diffuse; circulate.
    • spread information
    • circulate a rumor
    • broadcast the news
  7. verb cause to propagate, as by grafting or layering
  8. verb multiply sexually or asexually

WordNet

Prop"a*gate transitive verb
Etymology
L. propagatus, p. p. of propagare to propagate, akin to propages, propago, a layer of a plant, slip, shoot. See Pro-, and cf. Pact, Prop, Prune, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Propagated ; present participle & verbal noun Propagating
Definitions
  1. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; -- applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree.
  2. To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light.
  3. To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion.
    The infection was propagated insensibly. De Foe.
  4. To multiply; to increase. Obs.
    Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, Which thou wilt propagate. Shak.
  5. To generate; to produce.
    Motion propagated motion, and life threw off life. De Quincey.
    Syn. -- To multiply; continue; increase; spread; diffuse; disseminate; promote.
Prop"a*gate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To have young or issue; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants; as, rabbits propagate rapidly.
    No need that thou Should'st propagate, already infinite. Milton.

Webster 1913