propagation

noun

prop·​a·​ga·​tion ˌprä-pə-ˈgā-shən 

: the act or action of propagating: such as

a

: increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers

b

: the spreading of something (such as a belief) abroad or into new regions

c

: enlargement or extension (as of a crack) in a solid body

Examples of propagation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Genetics is thought to play a role in the propagation of this condition. —John Sergio, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 2024

Time of Year to Plant The best time to plant your poinsettia seeds or propagations is during March or late spring when the threat of frost has passed. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024

Scripps had operated the vessel for the U.S. Navy, which commissioned it in 1962 to study the propagation of sonar waves for submarine warfare. —Bysean Cummings, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024

The algorithm that has proved the most successful for deep learning is based on a technique called back propagation. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Oct. 2014

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

propagation

noun

prop·​a·​ga·​tion ˌpräp-ə-ˈgā-shən 

: the act or process of propagating: as

a

: multiplication (as of a kind of living thing) in number of individuals

b

: the spreading of something (as a belief) abroad or into new regions

Medical Definition

propagation

noun

prop·​a·​ga·​tion ˌpräp-ə-ˈgā-shən 

: the act or action of propagating: as

a

: increase (as of a kind of organism) in numbers

propagation of a pure culture of bacteria

b

: the spreading or transmission of something

propagation of a nerve impulse