fertilize

[ fur-tl-ahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, fer·ti·lized, fer·ti·liz·ing.

1. Biology.
   1. to render (the female gamete) capable of development by uniting it with the male gamete.
   2. to fecundate or impregnate (an animal or plant).
2. to make fertile; enrich:

   to fertilize farmland.

3. to make productive.

fertilize

/ ˈfɜːtɪˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to provide (an animal, plant, or egg cell) with sperm or pollen to bring about fertilization
2. to supply (soil or water) with mineral and organic nutrients to aid the growth of plants
3. to make fertile or productive

Derived Forms

• ˈfertiˌlizable, adjective

Other Words From

• ferti·liza·ble adjective
• ferti·liza·bili·ty noun
• over·ferti·lize verb (used with object) overfertilized overfertilizing
• pre·ferti·lize verb (used with object) prefertilized prefertilizing
• re·ferti·liza·ble adjective
• re·ferti·lize verb (used with object) refertilized refertilizing
• un·ferti·liza·ble adjective
• un·ferti·lized adjective
• un·ferti·lizing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fertilize¹

First recorded in 1640–50; fertile + -ize

Example Sentences

Farmers, who used herring to fertilize their fields and subsequently attracted gulls to their farms, joined in the complaints, Anderson adds.

From Salon

Surface water, for example, could have runoff that includes nitrate used to fertilize land in agricultural areas.

From Los Angeles Times

While Schwarz prefaced her response by emphasizing she doesn’t perform these surgeries herself, it’s likely that any gap in the way that fallopian tubes were sealed can likely provide an opportunity for the sperm and egg to meet and fertilize.

From Salon

Surface water, for example, could have runoff that includes nitrate used to fertilize land in agricultural areas.

From Los Angeles Times

“Fertilize and irrigate? Well, that’s actually helping the weeds more than the meadow, and it’s counterproductive. There are a lot of things you do in traditional garden design, and particularly in turf culture, that in this realm is counterproductive.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• compost
• enrich
• germinate
• impregnate
• inseminate
• mulch
• pollinate
• propagate