What does "reproduction" mean?

1. (biological procreation) the natural process by which living things have babies or produce young plants. 2. (a copy of an artwork) a copy of a painting, piece of furniture, or other object that looks like the original. 3. (the act of copying) the act of making a copy of a sound, image, or document. 4. (quality of sound or image) how clearly a machine plays back sound or shows an image.

How do you use "reproduction"?

Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to specific instances in research. Countable in this sense. Often used in the context of audio quality or software testing. Uncountable in this sense.

reproduction

US //ˌɹipɹəˈdəkʃən// UK //ɹɪpɹədˈʌkʃən// re·pro·duc·tion

1 biological procreation (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Science

the natural process by which living things have babies or produce young plants.

the biological process by which new individual organisms are produced from their parents.

Example

The documentary explains how different fish species handle reproduction in the deep ocean.

Example

The study focuses on the environmental factors that trigger sexual reproduction in certain species of coral during the summer months.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to specific instances in research.
2 a copy of an artwork (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a copy of a painting, piece of furniture, or other object that looks like the original.

a duplicate or copy of an original work, such as a painting or antique, often produced for commercial sale.

Example

I bought a cheap reproduction of a famous Van Gogh painting for my bedroom.

Example

The museum shop sells high-quality reproductions of the most popular exhibits, printed on archival paper to ensure longevity.

Usage

Countable in this sense.
- original

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3 the act of copying (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

the act of making a copy of a sound, image, or document.

the process of recreating or duplicating sounds, images, or data through mechanical or digital means.

Example

The speakers provide excellent sound reproduction, making you feel like you are at a concert.

Example

The software engineer asked for a clear set of steps for the reproduction of the bug before he could begin fixing the code.

Usage

Often used in the context of audio quality or software testing.
- duplication
- recreation
4 quality of sound or image (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Music

how clearly a machine plays back sound or shows an image.

the fidelity or accuracy with which a system records or plays back audio or visual signals.

Example

The digital version offers much better color reproduction than the old film.

Example

Audiophiles often argue that vinyl records provide a warmer sound reproduction than digital formats, despite the potential for surface noise.

Usage

Uncountable in this sense.

Teacher's tip

Often paired with 'faithful' or 'accurate' to describe high-quality equipment.
- fidelity
- playback

Origin

From re- + production.