propagate

UK: /ˈprɒpəgeɪt/ US: /ˈprɑpəˌgeɪt/ ,(prop′ə gāt′)

Inflections of 'propagate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

propagates

v 3rd person singular

propagating

v pres p

propagated

v past

propagated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prop•a•gate /ˈprɑpəˌgeɪt/   v., -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 

1. Developmental Biology, Genetics to (cause to) multiply or increase by any process of natural reproduction from the parent stock: [~ + object]
   to propagate seeds; These flowers will propagate themselves.
   [no object]
   The insects propagated vigorously.
2. [~ + object] to spread (a report, doctrine, practice, etc.) from person to person; disseminate.

prop•a•ga•tion /ˌprɑpəˈgeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prop•a•gate  (prop′ə gāt′), v., -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Developmental Biology, Genetics to cause (an organism) to multiply by any process of natural reproduction from the parent stock.
2. Developmental Biology, Genetics to reproduce (itself, its kind, etc.), as an organism does.
3. Developmental Biology, Genetics to transmit (hereditary features or elements) to, or through, offspring.
4. to spread (a report, doctrine, practice, etc.) from person to person; disseminate.
5. to cause to increase in number or amount.
6. Mechanics to create (an effect) at a distance, as by electromagnetic waves, compression waves, etc., traveling through space or a physical medium;
   transmit:
   to propagate sound.

v.i. 

7. Developmental Biology, Genetics to multiply by any process of natural reproduction, as organisms;
   breed.
8. to increase in extent, as a structural flaw:
   The crack will propagate only to this joint.
9. (of electromagnetic waves, compression waves, etc.) to travel through space or a physical medium.

• Latin propāgātus (past participle of propāgāre to reproduce (a plant) by cuttings, spread for sprouting, propagate, enlarge), equivalent. to propāg(ēs) something set out, scion, slip (pro- pro-¹ + pāg-, base of pangere to fasten + -ēs noun, nominal suffix) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1560–70

prop′a•ga′tive, prop•a•ga•to•ry  (prop′ə gə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  prop′a•ga′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

propagate / ˈprɒpəˌɡeɪt/ verb

1. to reproduce or cause to reproduce; breed
2. (transitive) to promulgate; disseminate
3. to move through, cause to move through, or transmit, esp in the form of a wave: to propagate sound
4. (transitive) to transmit (characteristics) from one generation to the next

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin propāgāre to increase (plants) by cuttings, from propāgēs a cutting, from pangere to fasten

ˌpropaˈgation noun

ˌpropaˈgational adjective

ˈpropagative adjective