propagate

Word family

Related topics: Crops, Gardening, Biology, Plants

prop·a·gate /ˈprɒpəɡeɪt $ ˈprɑː-/ verb formal

1 [transitiveT]TELL formal to spread an idea, belief etc to many people 传播，散播，宣传〔观点、信仰等〕

The group launched a website to propagate its ideas.

这个团体建了一个网站来宣扬他们的主张。

2 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]TACDLG if you propagate plants, or if they propagate, they start to grow from a parent plant to produce new plants （使）〔植物〕繁殖

Propagate your plants in fresh soil.

让你的植物在新鲜土壤中繁殖。

3. [transitiveT]HB if an animal, insect etc propagates itself or is propagated, it increases in number 〔动物、昆虫等〕繁衍，繁殖 SYN reproduce

—propagation /ˌprɒpəˈɡeɪʃən $ ˌprɑː-/ noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

propagate• The law denied to the state the right to propagate atheism or otherwise to interfere in religious affairs.• The vines are propagated by cuttings.• The plant is propagated by dividing older tufts or by spores; growth is very slow.• The belief that the king was a living god was propagated early in the 18th century.• Rasberries can be propagated in two different ways.• In nature plants of this genus are propagated mainly from the seeds.• Homer should have been flogged for propagating rubbish.• If this is the case, then the task of propagating the ideal of legality is not a specifically legal one.• Further, deep-water surface waves propagate with almost no frictional loss of energy.

Origin propagate

(1500-1600) Latin past participle of propagare “to breed plants from shoots”, from propago “shoot from which a new plant is produced”

prop·a·gate verb

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus