reproduce

[ ree-pruh-doos, -dyoos ]

verb (used with object)

, re·pro·duced, re·pro·duc·ing.

1. to make a copy, representation, duplicate, or close imitation of:

   to reproduce a picture.

2. to produce again or anew by natural process:

   to reproduce a severed branch.

3. Biology. to produce one or more other individuals of (a given kind of organism) by some process of generation or propagation, sexual or asexual.

   Synonyms: beget, propagate, generate

4. to cause or foster the reproduction of (organisms).
5. to produce, form, make, or bring about again or anew in any manner.

   Synonyms: repeat

6. to recall to the mind or have a mental image of (a past incident, scene, etc.), as by the aid of memory or imagination.
7. to produce again, as a play produced at an earlier time.

verb (used without object)

, re·pro·duced, re·pro·duc·ing.

1. to reproduce its kind, as an organism; propagate; bear offspring.
2. to turn out in a given manner when copied:

   This picture will reproduce well.

reproduce

/ ˌriːprəˈdjuːs /

verb

1. to make a copy, representation, or imitation of; duplicate
2. also intr biology to undergo or cause to undergo a process of reproduction
3. to produce or exhibit again
4. to bring back into existence again; re-create
5. to bring before the mind again (a scene, event, etc) through memory or imagination
6. intr to come out (well, badly, etc), when copied
7. to replace (damaged parts or organs) by a process of natural growth; regenerate
8. to cause (a sound or television recording) to be heard or seen

Derived Forms

• ˌreproˌduciˈbility, noun
• ˌreproˈducible, adjective
• ˌreproˈducibly, adverb

Other Words From

• re·pro·duc·er noun
• re·pro·duc·i·ble adjective
• self-re·pro·duc·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reproduce¹

First recorded in 1605–15; re- + produce

Synonym Study

See imitate.

Example Sentences

Phages are rapidly filtered out of the blood by the liver and spleen, but they can also reproduce, making it hard to determine the right dose.

From Salon

It produces new lines of solidarity, but it also reproduces borders between us and them.

From Salon

"The power of mathematics is that we can devise models that reproduce experimentally observed data and make concrete predictions about what will happen next," Karamched said.

From Science Daily

Deciphering and reproducing this particular behaviour of water in different temperature ranges is still a major challenge for the scientific community.

From Science Daily

"I know it will be difficult to reproduce what I have here anywhere else but there are other places with different exposure and pressure."

From BBC

Related Words

• clone
• copy
• duplicate
• emulate
• imitate
• mirror
• photocopy
• portray
• print
• recreate
• reflect
• repeat
• replicate
• reprint