Main Entry: fer·til·iza·tion

Variant(s): or British fer·til·isa·tion \ˌfərt-^əl-ə-ˈzā-shən\

Function: noun

: an act or process of making fertile: as a : an act or process of fecundation, insemination, or impregnation b : the process of union of two gametes whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated

—fer·til·ize or British fer·til·ise \ˈfərt-^əl-ˌīz\ transitive verb, fer·til·ized or British fer·til·ised; fer·til·iz·ing or British fer·til·is·ing