Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In zoology, the origination and development of generative zoöids, as in the formation of medusa-buds (planoblasts or hedrioblasts) by a polyp. See planoblast.
  • noun In botany, same as prolification.
  • noun Increase in size by reproduction of the primary elements.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Biol.) The continuous development of cells in tissue formation; cell formation.
  • noun (Zoöl.) The production of numerous zooids by budding, especially when buds arise from other buds in succession.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable The process by which an organism produces others of its kind; breeding, propagation, procreation, reproduction.
  • noun countable The act of increasing or rising; augmentation, amplification, enlargement, escalation, aggrandizement.
  • noun countable The result of building up; buildup, accretion.
  • noun uncountable The spread of biochemical, nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction to countries not originally involved in developing them.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun growth by the rapid multiplication of parts
  • noun a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From proliferate +‎ -ation.

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Examples

  • I personally do whatever I can to avoid having to pronounce the word proliferation.

    The Obama Diaries Laura Ingraham 2010

  • I personally do whatever I can to avoid having to pronounce the word proliferation.

    The Obama Diaries Laura Ingraham 2010

  • I personally do whatever I can to avoid having to pronounce the word proliferation.

    The Obama Diaries Laura Ingraham 2010

  • I personally do whatever I can to avoid having to pronounce the word proliferation.

    The Obama Diaries Laura Ingraham 2010

  • I mean, one threat, of course, is a proliferation threat, which we're dealing with through what we call the proliferation security initiative, which is a group of nations that say, "We're not going to allow this country to proliferate."

    CNN Transcript Jul 6, 2006 2006

  • I mean, one threat, of course, is a proliferation threat, which we're dealing with through what we call the proliferation security initiative, which is a group of nations that say, "We're not going to allow this country to proliferate."

    CNN Transcript Jul 9, 2006 2006

  • The NP delegation also expressed concern at what it called a proliferation of human rights institutions with no co-ordination mechanisms.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1997

  • "The generation of new neurons, what we call proliferation, occurs prenatally during the second trimester," said Romanski, who was not involved in the study.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • The Mungle furniture range is the product of a digital design technique that incorporates simple elements, which, in proliferation, are able to articulate more complex overall geometries.

    Mungle Office Desk and Coffee Table by Tsigos Design 2009

  • Designed by the Greek designer Dimitrios Tsigos the Mungle Office Desk is the product of a digital design technique that incorporates simple elements, which, in proliferation, are able to articulate more complex overall geometries.

    Wall Mounted Desk Office 2009

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