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sterileMain Entry: ster·ile Pronunciation: \ˈster-əl, chiefly British -ˌī(-ə)l\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English steryle, from Latin sterilis; akin to Gothic stairo barren animal, Sanskrit starī sterile cow Date: 15th century 1 a : failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores b : failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring <a sterile hybrid> c : incapable of germinating <sterile spores> d of a flower : neither perfect nor pistillate — ster·ile·ly \-ə(l)-lē\ adverb — ste·ril·i·ty \stə-ˈri-lə-tē\ noun
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