Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Reproduction has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the process of generating offspring
"After years of struggling, the couple finally succeeded in their reproduction after visiting a specialist clinic."
recall that is hypothesized to work by storing the original stimulus input and reproducing it during recall
"The researcher argued that their memory model relies on reproduction, where the brain stores an initial sensory event and recreates it exactly when retrieving the detail later."
copy that is not the original; something that has been copied
"The reproduction of the rare painting lacks the subtle brushstrokes found in the original masterpiece."
the act of making copies
"Gutenberg's reproduction of holy texts was far more efficient"
the sexual activity of conceiving and bearing offspring
"After years of trying, they finally celebrated their successful reproduction when their daughter was born."
The act of reproducing new individuals biologically.
"Many endangered species are struggling to survive because their habitats have shrunk so much that they can no longer support successful reproduction."
In plain English: Reproduction is the process by which living things make more of their own kind.
"The reproduction of this classic novel was a bestseller last year."
Usage: Use this term specifically to describe the biological process by which organisms create offspring, distinguishing it from general copying or duplication in other contexts. It functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the concept broadly but can be pluralized for specific instances of reproduction across different species.
The word reproduction is formed by adding the prefix re- to production. It entered English with its current meaning of producing offspring or copies again.