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fertilize

 - 2 dictionary results

fer⋅ti⋅lize

[fur-tl-ahyz]
–verb (used with object), -lized, -liz⋅ing.
1. Biology.
a. to render (the female gamete) capable of development by uniting it with the male gamete.
b. to fecundate or impregnate (an animal or plant).
2. to make fertile; enrich: to fertilize farmland.
3. to make productive.
Also, especially British, fer⋅ti⋅lise.


Origin:
1640–50; fertile + -ize


fer⋅ti⋅liz⋅a⋅ble, adjective
fer⋅ti⋅liz⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To fertilize
fer·til·ize   (fûr'tl-īz')   
v.   fer·til·ized, fer·til·iz·ing, fer·til·iz·es

v.   tr.
  1. To cause the fertilization of (an ovum, for example).

  2. To make (soil, for example) fertile: Compost fertilizes the soil.

  3. To spread fertilizer on: used a mechanical spreader to fertilize the lawn.

v.   intr.
To spread fertilizer.
fer'til·iz'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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