cross-fertilize
verb /ˌkrɒs ˈfɜːtəlaɪz/
/ˌkrɔːs ˈfɜːrtəlaɪz/
(British English also cross-fertilise)
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they cross-fertilize | /ˌkrɒs ˈfɜːtəlaɪz/ /ˌkrɔːs ˈfɜːrtəlaɪz/ |
| he / she / it cross-fertilizes | /ˌkrɒs ˈfɜːtəlaɪzɪz/ /ˌkrɔːs ˈfɜːrtəlaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple cross-fertilized | /ˌkrɒs ˈfɜːtəlaɪzd/ /ˌkrɔːs ˈfɜːrtəlaɪzd/ |
| past participle cross-fertilized | /ˌkrɒs ˈfɜːtəlaɪzd/ /ˌkrɔːs ˈfɜːrtəlaɪzd/ |
| -ing form cross-fertilizing | /ˌkrɒs ˈfɜːtəlaɪzɪŋ/ /ˌkrɔːs ˈfɜːrtəlaɪzɪŋ/ |
- cross-fertilize something (biology) to fertilize a plant using pollen from a different plant of the same species
- Unlike other cereals, rye is cross-fertilized.
- cross-fertilize something to help something develop in a useful or positive way by mixing ideas from a different area
- The study of psychology has recently been widely cross-fertilized by new discoveries in genetics.