Word of the Day

: March 28, 2010

pullulate

verb PUL-yuh-layt

What It Means

1 a : germinate, sprout

b : to breed or produce freely

2 : swarm, teem

pullulate in Context

The coastal resort town is quiet now, but with summer approaching it will soon be pullulating with tourists.

Did You Know?

To remember the history of "pullulate," think chickens. This may sound like odd advice, but it makes sense if you know that "pullulate" traces ultimately to the Latin noun "pullus," which means not only "sprout," but also "young of an animal" and, specifically, "chick." "Pullus" is also an ancestor of "pullet" ("young hen"), "poult" (meaning "young fowl" and especially "young turkey"), and even "poultry" ("domesticated fowl"). At first "pullulate" referred to sprouting, budding, and breeding around the farm; only later did it gain its "swarm" sense.