fertilizeverb [ T ]
UK usually fertilise uk/ˈfɜː.tɪ.laɪz/us/ˈfɝː.t̬əl.aɪz/fertilize verb [ T ] (LAND)
to spread a natural or chemical substance on land or plants, in order to make the plants grow well
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Improving fertility & pest control
- agrochemical
- ammonium sulphate
- bonemeal
- compost
- crop spraying
- DDT
- feed
- herbicide
- improver
- insecticide
- irrigate
- leaf mould
- lime
- manure
- pesticide
- potash
- reclamation
- rotate
- saltpetre
- sheep dip
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fertilize verb [ T ] (EGG/SEED)
to cause an egg or seed to start to develop into a new young animal or plant by joining it with a male cell:
Bees fertilize the flowers by bringing pollen.
Once an egg is fertilized by the sperm, it becomes an embryo.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Animal reproduction
- asexual
- asexual reproduction
- bird
- breed
- egg
- embryo
- embryology
- embryonic
- estrogen
- fetus
- incubate
- infertile
- inseminate
- lamb
- mate
- ova
- reproduction
- spawning ground
- spermatozoon
- the birds and the bees idiom
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fertilization
noun [ U ] UK usually fertilisation uk/ˌfɜː.tɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌfɝː.t̬əl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
In humans, fertilization is more likely to occur at certain times of the month.