propagate
verb
prop·a·gate
ˈprä-pə-ˌgāt
propagated; propagating
1
: to cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction
2
: to pass along to offspring
1
: to multiply sexually or asexually
3
: to travel through space or a material
—used of wave energy (such as light, sound, or radio waves)
Did you know?
The origins of propagate are firmly rooted in the field of horticulture. The word is a 16th century Latin borrowing, ultimately from the verb propagare, which means "to set (onto a plant) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting." The word's meaning quickly extended from the realm of the farm and field to less material kinds of reproduction, such as the spreading of ideas and beliefs. The similarity between propagate and propaganda is not coincidental; that word also comes to us from propagare, although it took a more circuitous route.
Cite this Entry
“Propagate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propagate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.
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