pullulate

English

WOTD – 3 November 2008

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin pullulātus, perfect passive participle of pullulō (sprout forth), from pullulus (a young animal, a sprout), diminutive of pullus.

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈpʌl.jʊ.leɪt/
  • (file)

Verb

pullulate (third-person singular simple present pullulates, present participle pullulating, simple past and past participle pullulated)

  1. To multiply rapidly.
  2. To germinate.
  3. To teem; to be filled (with).
    • 1945, Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited
      I must say the whole of Oxford has become most peculiar suddenly. Last night it was pullulating with women.

Derived terms

Translations


Italian

Verb

pullulate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of pullulare
  2. second-person plural imperative of pullulare
  3. feminine plural of pullulato

Latin

Verb

pullulāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of pullulō
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