fertilizer

[ fur-tl-ahy-zer ]

noun

1. any substance used to fertilize the soil, especially a commercial or chemical manure.
2. a person, insect, etc., that fertilizes an animal or plant:

   Bees are fertilizers of flowers.

fertilizer

/ ˈfɜːtɪˌlaɪzə /

noun

1. any substance, such as manure or a mixture of nitrates, added to soil or water to increase its productivity
2. an object or organism such as an insect that fertilizes an animal or plant

fertilizer

/ fûr′tl-ī′zər /

1. Any of a large number of natural and synthetic materials, including manure and compounds containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, spread on or worked into soil to increase its capacity to support plant growth. Synthetic fertilizers can greatly increase the productivity of soil but have high energy costs, since fossil fuels are required as a source of hydrogen, which is necessary to fix nitrogen in ammonia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fertilizer¹

First recorded in 1655–65; fertilize + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The best options allow you to simply insert the fertilizer directly into your plant, strengthening it over time.

From Popular-Science

The emissions are then either stored or sold for other uses, including fertilizer or even to add bubbles found in soda-type drinks.

From TechCrunch

These are ploughed and injected with a mixture of water, natural fertilizer and cereal seeds as it passes.

From Singularity Hub 

The steady march of higher yields was achieved by using large quantities of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as by discarding local crop varieties that were deemed unfavorable.

From MIT Technology Review

In this field, and many others like it, the ground had been prepared by a machine, the seedlings transplanted by a machine, and the pesticides and fertilizers applied by a machine.

From MIT Technology Review

So the candidate stood up on the fertilizer mound and gave his speech.

From The Daily Beast

When it was harvested en masse, it was frequently ground up as fertilizer.

From The Daily Beast

Initial testing of the fertilizer was positive; the Sanergy plot yielded 30% more sorghum than a non-fertilized plot.

From The Daily Beast

This year, it will begin to sell its fertilizer to farmers, and aims to have 1,000 toilets in use by the end of 2015.

From The Daily Beast

Police in Thailand recently investigated a case in which five human skulls were found in a fertilizer bag.

From The Daily Beast

Menhaden fish, found near the surface of the water, are inedible but are now being used for making fertilizer and oil in Virginia.

From Project Gutenberg

Unlike most land adapted for tobacco, large crops are grown without the aid of any fertilizer whatever.

From Project Gutenberg

Harrowing makes finer the lumps near the surface, and mixes the fertilizer deeper than a rake can be used.

From Project Gutenberg

Joe walked with a fine, free stride, and dropped the fertilizer from his hand with a perfectly rhythmic gesture.

From Project Gutenberg

A liberal quantity of some good fertilizer should be added to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• manure