fertile

4 entries found for fertile.
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fertile cross-fertile self-fertile Fertile Crescent

Main Entry: fer·tile
Pronunciation: 'f&r-t^&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin fertilis, from ferre to carry, bear -- more at BEAR
1 a : producing or bearing fruit in great quantities : PRODUCTIVE b : characterized by great resourcefulness of thought or imagination : INVENTIVE <a fertile mind> c obsolete : PLENTIFUL
2 a (1) : capable of sustaining abundant plant growth <fertile soil> (2) : affording abundant possibilities for growth or development <damp bathrooms are fertile ground for fungi --Consumer Reports> <a fertile area for research> b : capable of growing or developing <a fertile egg> c (1) : capable of producing fruit (2) of an anther : containing pollen (3) : developing spores or spore-bearing organs d : capable of breeding or reproducing
3 : capable of being converted into fissionable material <fertile uranium 238>
- fer·tile·ly /-t^&l-(l)E/ adverb
- fer·tile·ness /-t^&l-n&s/ noun
synonyms FERTILE, FECUND, FRUITFUL, PROLIFIC mean producing or capable of producing offspring or fruit. FERTILE implies the power to reproduce in kind or to assist in reproduction and growth <fertile soil>; applied figuratively, it suggests readiness of invention and development <a fertile imagination>. FECUND emphasizes abundance or rapidity in bearing fruit or offspring <a fecund herd>. FRUITFUL adds to FERTILE and FECUND the implication of desirable or useful results <fruitful research>. PROLIFIC stresses rapidity of spreading or multiplying by or as if by natural reproduction <a prolific writer>.