to pullulate
- verb
- /ˈpʌljʊleɪt/
- Archaic
- The small pond was alive with frogs that pullulated around the edges, making it a lively spot.
Examples
-
In the summer, flowers pullulate in gardens, creating a vibrant display of colors.
-
Around him pullulates the pestiferous world.
Fiction book (1999) -
Reviewing varied programs of universalism, simplifying as is necessary, does not presuppose that one could pick and choose diverse elements from different traditions and create a pullulating synthesis.
Academic text (2016) -
After the rain, the forest seemed to pullulate with life as insects and animals appeared everywhere.
Synonyms
Many people or animals move somewhere quickly in a steady stream
To move to a place in large numbers and make it busy
To make new living things such as animals or plants
To flow out in large amounts, like liquid or tears
To be full of people, animals, or things
Increase quickly in number or make something increase quickly
Be full of many people or things
To gather in large numbers around a person or place like a swarm
Antonyms
Phrasal Verbs
How Abundant
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pullulate comes from the Latin pullulare, from pullus meaning 'young'. Think of words like pullet or poultry that also come from the same root and remind us of young animals; the basic idea is 'producing young' or 'sprouting'. So to pullulate today is to multiply, sprout, or be full of life and activity.