Dictionary.com

cross-fertilization

[ kraws-fur-tl-uh-zey-shuhn, kros- ]
/ ˈkrɔsˌfɜr tl əˈzeɪ ʃən, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

Biology. the fertilization of an organism by the fusion of an egg from one individual with a sperm or male gamete from a different individual.
Botany. fertilization of the flower of one plant by a gamete from the flower of a closely related plant (opposed to self-fertilization).
(not in technical use) cross-pollination.
interaction or interchange, as between two or more cultures, fields of activity or knowledge, or the like, that is mutually beneficial and productive: a cross-fertilization of scientific and technical disciplines.

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Origin of cross-fertilization

First recorded in 1875–80

Words nearby cross-fertilization

cross-examine, cross-eye, cross-eyed, cross-fade, cross-fertile, cross-fertilization, cross-fertilize, cross-file, crossfire, cross flap, crossfoot
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for cross-fertilization

British Dictionary definitions for cross-fertilization

cross-fertilization

noun

fertilization by the fusion of male and female gametes from different individuals of the same speciesCompare self-fertilization

Derived forms of cross-fertilization

cross-fertile, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for cross-fertilization

cross-fertilization

The fertilization that occurs when the nucleus of a male sex cell from one individual joins with the nucleus of a female sex cell from another individual. In plants, cross-pollination is an example of cross-fertilization. Also called allogamy Compare self-fertilization.

Other words from cross-fertilization

cross-fertilize verb
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for cross-fertilization

cross-fertilization

The fertilization of the ovum of one plant by the sperm of another plant.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.