What does propagation mean?
Word: Propagation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Propagation means the growing of new plants from parent plants, or the spreading of something such as an idea, light or sound.
Synonyms: spreading, breeding
How do you spell propagation?
Syllables: prop - a - ga - tion
Tricky part: Like propagate, it has an a after prop: propagation, not propogation. Students copy the o of prop by mistake.
Watch out for: propogation, proppagation, propagatoin
Memory tip: Picture a gardener propping up a cutting with one small stick: the a straight after prop is that stick.
Propagation in a sentence
Example 1: The nursery sells kits for the propagation of herbs such as mint and basil.
Example 2: Sound propagation is faster in water than in air.
Example 3: The book traces the propagation of Buddhism from India to other parts of Asia.
Fun Fact
In science, propagation also means how waves travel: sound needs something like air or water to pass through, but light can cross empty space.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
propaga____
a) tion
b) cion
c) tian
d) sion
Show answer
a) tion. The noun of propagate ends in tion: the e of the verb goes, and ion takes its place.
Sound Check
In which word is 'ga' pronounced differently?
a) sugar
b) gaze
c) gate
d) propagation
Show answer
a) sugar. In propagation, gate and gaze the ga says gay; in sugar it is a weak guh.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
At the science fair, Kabir showed the propagation of money plants in glass jars, and the judges were very impresed.
a) 2
b) 0
c) 1
d) 3
Show answer
c) 1. Impressed needs a double s; propagation is spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Choose the sentence that uses propagation correctly.
a) We propagation to the market every Sunday morning.
b) She was very propagation after the long race.
c) The propagation of the rumour upset the whole school.
d) I propagation my shoes every single morning before school.
Show answer
c) The propagation of the rumour upset the whole school.
2. Which of these is an example of plant propagation?
a) mowing the grass on a lawn
b) picking flowers to put in a vase
c) watering a plant every single morning
d) planting a cutting so that it grows roots
Show answer
d) planting a cutting so that it grows roots
