cross-fertilization

[ kraws-fur-tl-uh-zey-shuhn, kros- ]

noun

1. 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.
2. Botany. fertilization of the flower of one plant by a gamete from the flower of a closely related plant ( self-fertilization ).
3. (not in technical use) cross-pollination.
4. 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.

cross-fertilization

noun

1. fertilization by the fusion of male and female gametes from different individuals of the same species Compare self-fertilization

cross-fertilization

1. 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.
2. Also called allogamy
3. Compare self-fertilization

cross-fertilization

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

Derived Forms

• ˌcross-ˈfertile, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cross-fertilization¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

We were somewhat at the tail end of that cross-fertilization.

From Los Angeles Times

Music has historically been the country’s ethnically richest art form, particularly embodied in the multicultural story of jazz and in today’s cross-fertilization between popular genres.

From Washington Post

The overlap reflects the growing cross-fertilization of official statements and state media reports in the two countries, especially regarding the United States.

From New York Times

Kelly says he sees the move into L.A. as a “two-way cross-fertilization.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Artists come to experiment and try new ideas. This innately creates a cross-fertilization where the artists’ new ideas influence the Museum of Glass team and the team’s expertise influences artists’ work,” she explains.

From Seattle Times