a. [ F. prolifique, fr. L. proles offspring (from pro for, forward + the root of alere to nourish) + facere to make. See Adult, Old, and Fact. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having the quality of generating; producing young or fruit; generative; fruitful; productive; -- applied to plants producing fruit, animals producing young, etc.; -- usually with the implied idea of frequent or numerous production; as, a prolific tree, female, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Serving to produce; fruitful of results; active; as, a prolific brain; a controversy prolific of evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Proliferous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Prolificness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Producing young or fruit abundantly; fruitful; prolific. -- Pro*lif"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. [ See Prolific. ] To make prolific; to fertilize; to impregnate. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. prolification, LL. prolificatio. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The generation of young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Reproduction by the growth of a plant, or part of a plant, directly from an older one, or by gemmæ. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being prolific; fruitfulness; prolificacy. [ 1913 Webster ]