| 释义 |
proliferate, v.|prəʊˈlɪfəreɪt|
[Back-formation from proliferation]
1. a. intr. To reproduce itself by proliferation; to grow by multiplication of elementary parts.
1873T. H. Green Introd. Pathol. (ed. 2) 277 The enlarged and granular epithelial cells may then proliferate, and thus new elements are produced. 1884Rep. U.S. Comm. Fish. 988 The materials..being supplied by the mesoblast which proliferates into the median fin-fold. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VI. 639 The old nerve-fibres..proliferate.
b. Zool. To produce new individuals, esp. sexual as distinguished from nutritive zooids. Also more widely: to give rise to an increasing number of offspring, to reproduce prolifically.
1878Bell Gegenbaur's Comp. Anat. §74. 95 The proliferating persons of a colony [of polyps] present various degrees of degeneration. 1926Socialist Rev. Apr. 33 Those who..have neither the time to care for their children's moral well-being, nor the space which is necessary to ensure their physical welfare, proliferate, unchecked. 1955Sci. Amer. May 32/3 Normal man carries throughout life a host of microbes which now and then start proliferating and cause disease.
c. gen. Of things, happenings, etc.: to increase greatly in numbers; to be(come) rife.
1961Daily Tel. 19 Jan. 12/3 There was more than a suspicion that the system which had gradually evolved over the years was not able to produce the highest quality in British football—a quality which becomes more and more indispensable as international matches proliferate. 1972Sci. Amer. Feb. 13/3 Indeed, microwave devices may proliferate as much as television sets have proliferated. 1976National Observer (U.S.) 21 Aug. 6/6 In recent years, cut-rate sporting goods have proliferated to appeal to the less fussy adventurer.
2. a. trans. To produce or form by proliferation.
1885A. E. Shipley in Proc. Roy. Soc. XXXIX. 246 The mesoblastic plates..proliferate cells at their edge.
b. To produce (esp. nuclear weapons) in large quantities.
1971Nature 24 Dec. 493/2 Both superpowers continue to proliferate nuclear weapons. 1974Daily Tel. 24 June 1/2 The Government strongly supports international agreement not to ‘proliferate’ nuclear weapons.
Hence proˈliferated, proˈliferating ppl. adjs.
1873T. H. Green Introd. Pathol. (ed. 2) 97 Some of the proliferating elements..having been left behind. 1879St. George's Hosp. Rep. 691 It was..beset with numerous nuclei, as if of proliferated elements. 1904Brit. Med. Jrnl. 10 Sept. 597 The great number of cells which are found wandering far and wide..are not proliferated endothelial cells. 1964Time 4 Dec. 21/1 In Europe, U.S. diplomats are still trying to promote a multilateral nuclear fleed (MLF) as an alternative to proliferating national forces. 1967Economist 25 Feb. 698/2 Indeed, the case for Britain (and France) going non-nuclear would become more persuasive after the signing of the treaty than it would in a treatyless, proliferating world. 1968Ibid. 13 Apr. 41/1 Those who struggle on in the hospital service, taking the necessary diplomas of the proliferating specialist colleges. |