Reproduction Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/riˌprəʊdʌkʃən/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

The process of producing offspring or replicas, either biological, artificial, or digital, involving the creation, development, and management of copies, duplicates, or duplicates of a given entity, concept, or content.

Examples

• The company invested heavily in the reproduction of their best-selling video game.
• The artist’s reproduction of the Mona Lisa was an exact copy.

Synonyms

• Copy
• Duplicate
• Replica

Antonyms

• Original
• New
• Unique

Additional Information

Reproduction can occur in various forms, such as biological, artificial, digital, or chemical. In biology, reproduction involves the creation of offspring through sexual or asexual means. In contrast, artificial reproduction involves the creation of duplicates or copies through technological means, such as 3D printing or digital duplication. Reproduction is a fundamental process in many scientific disciplines, including biology, computer science, and engineering.

Reproduction can also be used in various industries, such as manufacturing, entertainment, and education. For example, reproduction can be used to create multiple copies of a product, such as a toy or a gadget, or to create copies of digital content, such as videos or music.

However, reproduction can also have negative connotations, such as the loss of originality or uniqueness. In some cases, reproduction can be seen as a way to preserve or maintain something, such as a work of art or a historical artifact. In other cases, reproduction can be seen as a means to create something new and original, such as a remix or a cover version.

Etymology

The term “reproduction” comes from the Latin words “re” meaning “again” and “producer” meaning “to bring forth”. It has been used in English since the 15th century to describe the process of creating duplicates or offspring.

Usage Notes

When using the term “reproduction”, it is important to specify the type of reproduction being referred to, such as biological, artificial, or digital. Additionally, the context in which the term is used can affect its meaning, such as in discussions of copyright or intellectual property.

Cultural References

The concept of reproduction has been depicted in various forms of media, such as science fiction films like “Blade Runner” and “The Matrix”, which explore the implications of artificial reproduction. Reproduction has also been a theme in music, with songs like “Copycat” and “Original Sin” exploring the ideas of replication and duplication.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• “Play it again, Sam” – a phrase used to request a replay or reproduction of something
• “The copycat effect” – a phenomenon where individuals replicate the behavior of others

Related Words or Phrases

• Replica
• Copy
• Duplicate
• Forgery

Collocations

• Reproduction of a work of art
• Artificial reproduction of a biological process
• Reproduction of a song

Frequency of Use

The term “reproduction” is commonly used in scientific, literary, and commercial contexts. According to Google Ngram Viewer, the term has been used steadily since the 19th century, with a slight increase in usage since the 1990s.

Common Misspellings

• Reproduction (incorrectly spelled as “Reproduciton” or “Reproduktion”)
• Reproduce (incorrectly spelled as “Reprodued” or “Reproduced”)