proliferation

UK/pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/US/pɹəˌlɪf.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

nounC2Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,524 of 15,258mostly written

Proliferation is a rapid increase in numbers. Nuclear proliferation, the proliferation of apps, cell proliferation.

In arms control it means the spread of weapons to more states, and the treaty against it is the central agreement of the nuclear age. In biology it is the multiplication of cells, which is exactly what cancer is.

Definitions of proliferation

1nounproliferationA rapid increase in numbers.C2
“The last decade has seen a proliferation of coffee shops on every high street.”

proliferation is an increase.

Where it comes from

French
prolifération
English, today
proliferation

Borrowed from French prolifération.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

proliferation in the wild

Critics argue that the NPT cannot stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons or the motivation to acquire them.
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Cell proliferation requires both cell growth and cell division to occur at the same time, such that the average size of cells remains constant in the population.
Cell proliferation
The total number of cells in a population is determined by the rate of cell proliferation minus the rate of cell death.
Cell proliferation
Measures to combat proliferation by analysing and preventing related financial transactions are referred to as counter-proliferation financing.
Counterproliferation
Congress, into law, now called the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-proliferation Enhancement Act, on October 8, 2008.
India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement

1 / 2

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

← Vocabulary