Reproduce

/ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
3 meanings3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To make a copy or imitation of something.

/ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To make a copy of something.

The machine can reproduce documents quickly.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have a really cool drawing, and you want to make a copy so your friend can have one too! That's reproducing – making another one of something!

👶 For kids: To make a copy of something. Like when you copy your friend's drawing.

More Examples

2

He tried to reproduce the effect in his painting.

3

The museum reproduced the ancient artifacts for educational purposes.

How It's Used

Art

"The artist reproduced the painting with meticulous detail."

Technology

"The printer can reproduce images with high fidelity."

2

To produce offspring or new individuals; to procreate.

/ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To generate offspring or new individuals.

Many species can reproduce quickly.

💡 Simply: Animals and plants have babies! That's called reproducing – making more of their own kind, just like parents have kids!

👶 For kids: To have babies! Like when animals and plants make more babies of their kind.

More Examples

2

The population is growing because they reproduce successfully.

3

Certain bacteria reproduce rapidly in favorable conditions.

How It's Used

Biology

"Animals reproduce through sexual or asexual methods."

Botany

"Plants reproduce via seeds or cuttings."

Tip:RE-produce: produce again, as in having babies.
3

To cause (a sound, image, etc.) to be presented or appear again.

/ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To cause (a sound or image) to be heard or seen again.

The new audio system can reproduce every detail of the recording.

💡 Simply: Imagine your music player. When you play a song, it reproduces the sound of your favorite song. This refers to making a sound or visual appears again.

👶 For kids: To make sounds or pictures come back, like when you play a song.

More Examples

2

The television is capable of reproducing vivid images.

3

The microphone can reproduce voices clearly.

How It's Used

Technology

"The speakers can reproduce the sound of the instruments very clearly."

Media

"The television can reproduce vibrant colors on the screen."

Tip:RE-produce: again produce something as sound or image.

From Latin *reproducere* ('to bring forth again, to copy'), from *re-* ('again') + *producere* ('to lead forth').

The word 'reproduce' has been used in English since the 16th century, initially referring to the act of bringing back something or creating a copy.

Memory tip

Think of RE-producing: making it again, like a photocopy.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to lead forth, to produce"

reproduce a copyreproduce offspringreproduce imagesreproduce soundsreproduce accurately

Common misspellings

reproduceereproducreproduse

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written