What is replicate? Pronunciation and usage in English

replicate means . Learn how to pronounce and use replicate through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of replicate

replicateverb

/ˈreplɪkeɪt//ˈreplɪkeɪt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "replicate." It can be tricky! Here's a breakdown with audio cues and explanations:

1. The Core Sound:

  • "re-": This is pronounced like "reh" – like the "re" in "red" or "repeat." (IPA: /riː/)
  • "plicate": This is where it gets a little complex. It’s not like a typical English word.

2. Breaking Down "plicate":

  • "pli-": This part sounds like "ply" – as in, a piece of wood. (IPA: /plɪ/)
  • "-cate": This is the most difficult part. It’s a Latin-derived sound we don't hear often in English. It's approximately like "kāt" (with a short "a" sound). Think of the sound in the word "catalog" or "allocate". It’s a subtle, almost clipped sound. (IPA: /ˈkeɪteɪ/)

3. Combining It All:

Putting it together, you get: "reh-PLAY-kāt"

4. Audio Examples:

Tips for Pronunciation:

  • Stress: The first syllable ("reh") is the emphasized syllable.
  • "cate" is key: Really focus on getting that "kāt" sound right. Don't say "cat" – it needs to be a shorter, tighter sound.
  • Practice slowly: Initially, say each syllable deliberately, then gradually increase your speed.

Would you like me to:

  • Break down any part of the pronunciation further?
  • Give you some example sentences you can practice saying "replicate"?

Usage and examples with the word replicate in English

Let's break down how to use the word "replicate" in English. It has a few different meanings, but they all revolve around creating something similar to something else.

1. In Science and Research (Most Common Meaning):

  • Definition: To reproduce or copy something exactly, particularly an experiment or set of results. It’s about verifying that you can get the same outcome if you repeat the process under the same conditions.
  • How to Use It:
    • "Scientists attempted to replicate the original study's results." (Meaning: They tried to repeat the experiment and get the same findings.)
    • "The researchers aimed to replicate the experiment with a different sample group." (Meaning: They wanted to see if the results held true even with a slightly altered group.)
    • "Successful replication is crucial for validating scientific discoveries." (Meaning: If many scientists can replicate an experiment, it’s more likely the discovery is real.)
  • Key Phrases: "Replicate an experiment," "Replicate the results," "Reproducible results"

2. In General Usage (Similar to Copy or Duplicate):

  • Definition: To create an identical copy of something. This can be applied to physical objects, processes, or even ideas.
  • How to Use It:
    • “The artist tried to replicate the famous painting’s colors.” (Meaning: They attempted to match the colors exactly.)
    • “The company is working to replicate the success of its previous product.” (Meaning: They're trying to copy the strategies and features that made the previous product successful.)
    • “I need to replicate this process before I can teach it to others.” (Meaning: I need to perfectly copy/follow the process first.)
  • Synonyms: copy, duplicate, imitate, reproduce.

3. In Business and Operations (To create a system or process to match an existing one)

  • Definition: To implement a system in the same way as an existing system to achieve similar results.
  • How to Use It:
    • "The new marketing team sought to replicate the strategies used by the previous team." (Meaning: They're trying to copy the strategies and methods.)
    • “We need to replicate this procedure across all departments.” (Meaning: We need to implement the exact same method in all departments.)

Key Differences to Note:

  • “Reproduce” is often used when referring to a result – a numerical outcome, for example. "Reproduce the data" means to get the same numbers.
  • “Replicate” is often used for processes, experiments, or actions – the steps you take to get the result. "Replicate the experiment" means to repeat the experiment.

Tips for Using "Replicate":

  • Context is important: Pay attention to the surrounding words to understand exactly what’s being replicated.
  • Emphasize precision: “Replicate” suggests a careful and accurate copying.

Would you like me to:

  • Give you some example sentences using "replicate" in different contexts?
  • Explain how "replicate" differs from similar words like "duplicate" or "copy"?

Synonyms for the word replicate

Practice with vocabulary replicate

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Scientists are working tirelessly to ________ the experiment's findings in an independent lab to ensure their validity.
  2. The company aims to ________ its successful business model across all new regional branches for consistent growth.
  3. Please ________ the original key, as we need an spare for emergency access.
  4. The goal of the audio engineers was to ________ the same high-quality sound of a live concert in the studio recording.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. To confirm the reliability of the study, researchers attempted to ________ its methodology and outcomes. a) innovate b) alter c) replicate d) reproduce

  2. For a new product to achieve widespread success, its core appeal and functionality must be easy to ________ across different markets. a) transform b) diversify c) replicate d) duplicate

  3. The IT team struggled to ________ the elusive software bug, making it difficult to pinpoint the root cause of the system crash. a) eliminate b) generate c) replicate d) fix

  4. Aspiring designers often try to ________ the artistic vision of their mentors, hoping to learn from their established techniques. a) distort b) emulate c) disregard d) imitate

  5. Before investing heavily, the firm decided to ________ the potential market scenarios using advanced predictive analytics. a) observe b) analyze c) simulate d) interpret

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The research team's primary objective is to create an identical copy of the synthetic compound. Rewrite using "replicate" or a related word form:

  2. Original: Reproducing the high-level performance of the prototype in mass production proved to be a significant challenge. Rewrite using "replicate" or a related word form:

  3. Original: The engineers built a computer model that accurately represented the airflow over the new wing design. Rewrite without using "replicate" or related word forms:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. replicate
  2. replicate
  3. duplicate
  4. reproduce

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) replicate, d) reproduce
  2. c) replicate, d) duplicate
  3. c) replicate
  4. b) emulate, d) imitate
  5. c) simulate

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The research team's primary objective is to replicate the synthetic compound.
  2. Replication of the high-level performance of the prototype in mass production proved to be a significant challenge.
  3. The engineers built a computer model that accurately simulated the airflow over the new wing design.

Comment ()