proliferative

IPA/pɹəlˈɪfəɹətˌɪv/
IPA/pɹəlˈɪfɚɹətˌɪv/

proliferative — adjective

  • proliferativepositive
  • more proliferativecomparative
  • most proliferativesuperlative

1. involving or marked by the fast multiplication of cells, organisms, or tissue, e

1.形容詞C1
釋義

involving or marked by the fast multiplication of cells, organisms, or tissue, especially in a medical or biological context

例句

The proliferative phase of wound healing begins about four days after injury.

collocation: proliferative phase

Dr. Feng explained that the tumour had entered a highly proliferative stage.

同義詞
  • multiplying

    more general; not limited to biological contexts

  • proliferating

    present participle form; interchangeable in most biological uses

  • hyperplastic

    specifically refers to tissue enlargement by increased cell numbers

反義詞
  • quiescent

    describes cells or tissue in a resting, non-dividing state

  • dormant

    temporarily inactive; often used for seeds or latent disease

文法句型

proliferative + noun

用法筆記

Common in medical and biological writing. Typically describes disease progression or the growth behaviour of tissues and tumours.

常見錯誤

❌The cancer spread fast because it was very proliferative.
✅The biopsy revealed highly proliferative tumour cells.
💡'proliferative' describes the nature of cell growth, not how fast a cancer metastasises through the body.

2. spreading or growing at a fast pace in number, range, or extent, often used of t

2.形容詞C1
釋義

spreading or growing at a fast pace in number, range, or extent, often used of trends, ideas, or social phenomena

例句

Dr. Chen warned that the proliferative growth of health misinformation on social media was putting patients at risk.

attributive use: proliferative growth

Maeve tracked the proliferative growth of discount chain stores across six Southeast Asian cities.

同義詞
  • burgeoning

    emphasises growth and expansion, often with positive connotations

  • escalating

    emphasises increasing intensity, often of negative things like conflict

  • surging

    suggests a sudden sharp increase rather than steady multiplication

反義詞
  • declining

    decreasing in number or strength over time

  • dwindling

    gradually becoming smaller or fewer

文法句型

proliferative + noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (RAPID CELL GROWTH): this sense applies to non-biological things like ideas, businesses, or social trends. Less frequent than the biological sense.

常見錯誤

❌She is a proliferative writer who publishes four novels a year.
✅She is a prolific writer who publishes four novels a year.
💡'proliferative' means spreading or multiplying rapidly; 'prolific' means producing abundantly as an individual.