v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Propagated p. pr. & vb. n. Propagating. ] [ L. propagatus, p. p. of propagare to propagate, akin to propages, propago, a layer of a plant, slip, shoot. See Pro-, and cf. Pact, Prop, Prune, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; -- applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The infection was propagated insensibly. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To multiply; to increase. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
Which thou wilt propagate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To generate; to produce. [ 1913 Webster ]

Motion propagated motion, and life threw off life. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To multiply; continue; increase; spread; diffuse; disseminate; promote. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To have young or issue; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants; as, rabbits propagate rapidly. [ 1913 Webster ]

No need that thou
Should'st propagate, already infinite. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. propagatio: cf. F. propagation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of propagating; continuance or multiplication of the kind by generation or successive production; as, the propagation of animals or plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is not in nature any spontaneous generation, but all come by propagation. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The spreading abroad, or extension, of anything; diffusion; dissemination; as, the propagation of sound; the propagation of the gospel. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Producing by propagation, or by a process of growth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L.: cf. F. propagateur. ] One who propagates; one who continues or multiplies. [ 1913 Webster ]