replicate

1 of 3

verb

rep·​li·​cate ˈre-plə-ˌkāt 

replicated; replicating

transitive verb

: duplicate, repeat

replicate a statistical experiment

replicated his mentor's writing style

intransitive verb

: to undergo replication : produce a replica of itself

virus particles replicating in cells

replicate

2 of 3

adjective

rep·​li·​cate ˈre-plə-kət 

: manifold, repeated

replicate

3 of 3

noun

rep·​li·​cate ˈre-plə-kət 

: one of several identical experiments, procedures, or samples

Synonyms

Verb

• clone
• copy
• copycat
• duplicate
• imitate
• reduplicate
• render
• reproduce

Examples of replicate in a Sentence

Verb

They are working on computer-generated speech that replicates the human voice.

DNA replicates itself in the cell nucleus.

DNA replicates in the cell nucleus.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The researchers then tried to replicate the complex arrangement of dyes in naturally occurring systems to develop a highly efficient new light-harvesting system. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 June 2024

Many shows have tried to replicate Atlanta’ssuccess to varying degrees—Dave is a decent one—but nothing feels quite like the original. —Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 27 June 2024

This general pattern in the data has been replicated several times. —Christian B. Miller, CNN, 25 June 2024

As American engineers come up with their own workable designs (and many are trying), the next step will be to replicate them at lower cost. —Robert Gebelhoff, Washington Post, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English replecaten "to repeat," borrowed from Latin replicātus, past participle of replicō, replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, unroll (a papyrus book), go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly, make a replication" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply"), from re- re- + -plicāre "to fold, bend" — more at ply entry 3

Adjective

borrowed from Latin replicātus, past participle of replicō, replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, unroll (a papyrus book), go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") — more at replicate entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of replicate entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

1915, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

replicate

1 of 2 verb

rep·​li·​cate ˈrep-lə-ˌkāt 

replicated; replicating

1

: duplicate entry 2 sense 1, repeat

2

: to produce one or more exact copies of itself

DNA replicates in the cell nucleus

replicate

2 of 2 noun

rep·​li·​cate ˈrep-li-kət 

: one of several identical experiments, processes, or samples

Medical Definition

replicate

1 of 2 verb

rep·​li·​cate ˈrep-lə-ˌkāt 

replicated; replicating

transitive verb

: to repeat or duplicate (as an experiment)

intransitive verb

: to undergo replication : produce a replica of itself

virus particles replicating in cells

replicate

2 of 2 noun

rep·​li·​cate -li-kət 

1

: one of several identical experiments, procedures, or samples

2

: something (as a gene, DNA, or a cell) produced by replication