Produce is a verb meaning to cause something to come into existence or to make something, especially goods, available for sale or consumption. It also refers to plants bearing fruit or vegetables. In everyday use, it can contrast with “reduce” or “destroy,” and in business contexts it often means manufacturing or generating results.
"The farm will produce enough tomatoes for the community market this summer."
"The company plans to produce a new line of eco-friendly packaging next year."
"You should produce a report by Friday to keep the project on track."
"The river can produce hydroelectric power when the dam is running at full capacity."
Produce comes from Middle English produce, from Anglo-French produire, and from Latin produere, which means to lead forth or extend forward. The Latin roots are pro- (forward) and ducere (to lead). The sense evolved from “to bring forth, bring forth children or offspring” to the more general sense of bringing forth goods, crops, or results. In English, produce historically carried both the sense of bringing forth life (as in offspring) and material manufacture or results. By Middle English, it was used in agricultural contexts ( farm produce ) and in commerce for manufactured goods. The noun form “produce” as a general term for fruits and vegetables is attested early in the modern period, and the verb sense of creation or fabrication became dominant in business and manufacturing usage in the 17th–19th centuries, later expanding to abstract “producing” outcomes in later lexicography. First known use as a verb in English dates to the 14th century, with the agricultural noun usage peaking in common usage through the 18th and 19th centuries as global commerce evolved.
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Words that rhyme with "Produce"
-uce sounds
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Pronounce as two syllables: PRO-duce. In IPA: US /ˈproʊ.duːs/ or /ˈproʊ.djuːs/ (depending on speaker), UK /ˈprɒ.djuːs/ and AU /ˈprəʊ.djuːs/. The first syllable carries primary stress, with a long o vowel in the US (sound of 'pro' as in 'propose') and a closer, rounded vowel in other variants. The second syllable is a reduced, unstressed '-duce' with a light, almost 'dyoo' or 'duhs' ending. Mouth position: start with a rounded, open-front vowel for /oʊ/ or /ɒ/, then glide toward /d͡ʒ/ or /d/ depending on accent, ending with a light schwa-like or /uː/ vowel.
Common errors: 1) Stress on the second syllable PRO-duce vs. proDUCE; ensure primary stress stays on the first syllable. 2) Mispronouncing the second syllable as ‘duce’ with a hard /z/ or /s/ sound; keep it light and almost like ‘dyoo’ or ‘duːs’. 3) Vowel quality in the first syllable: Americans often use /oʊ/ like ‘pro’ in ‘propose’; others may reduce to /ɒ/ or /ɔ/; aim for a clear, long vowel in the first syllable. 4) Linking and final sound: avoid adding an extra consonant; end with a soft /s/ or /s/ sound without extra syllables.
In US English, /ˈproʊ.duːs/ with a long 'o' in the first syllable and a long 'u' in the second. UK English tends to /ˈprɒ.djuːs/ with a shorter first vowel and a 'dyoo' quality in the second; the /juː/ may be heard clearly. Australian English often aligns with US on rhotics and vowel length, but the first vowel may be closer to /əʊ/ or /ɒ/ depending on the speaker; the second syllable often features a relaxed /d͡ʒuː/ or /dʒuː/ variant. Overall, rhoticity is variable; non-rhotic tendencies can influence the ending.
The difficulty stems from two phonetic hurdles: the two-syllable, stress-shifted word where the first syllable carries primary stress and the second is reduced; and the off-glide into /juː/ or /uː/ which can sound like /d͡ʒuː/ or /duː/ depending on region. Learners often misplace stress or pronounce the second syllable with a stronger vowel, creating confusion between the verb and noun forms. Carefully practicing the transition from /pro/ to /duːs/ helps anchor natural pronunciation.
Unique question: Why can the second syllable of ‘produce’ feel like it’s leading with /d͡ʒ/ rather than a plain /d/? Answer: In many speakers, especially in American and some UK varieties, the combination /-duce/ is realized as /-djuːs/ or /-dʒuːs/, where the consonant blends toward a palatal sound, producing an affricate-like effect. This is an expected allophonic variation tied to the phonetic environment after /pro-/ where the tongue moves toward a palatal position for an easier transition into the /uː/ vowel. Practicing the /d͡ʒ/ onset in isolation helps.
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