propagare

to propagate

verb proh-pah-GAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin propagare (to extend, multiply).

Also means

to spread

Usage Note

Propagare is used for the spread of sound, fire, disease, or ideas — propagare il suono (to propagate sound), propagare una notizia (to spread a piece of news). The reflexive propagarsi is equally common: il fuoco si è propagato rapidamente (the fire spread rapidly). Takes avere as auxiliary in its non-reflexive form.

Examples

"Le onde sonore si propagano nell'aria."

Natural Translation

Sound waves propagate through the air.

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