Meaning of pullulate in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈpəljəˌleɪt/

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  1. Verb

    pullulate

    Etymology

    early 17th century: from Latin pullulat-‘sprouted’, from the verb pullulare, from pullulus, diminutive of pullus‘young animal’

    Definitions

    1. be teeming, be abuzz

    Examples

    • « The garden was swarming with bees »
    • « The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen »
    • « her mind pullulated with worries »
  2. 2. move in large numbers

    Examples

    • « people were pouring out of the theater »
    • « beggars pullulated in the plaza »
  3. 3. produce buds, branches, or germinate

    Examples

    • « the potatoes sprouted »
  4. 4. become abundant

    Examples

    • « increase rapidly »
  5. 5. breed freely and abundantly