adjective 1. (of animals or plants) able to produce (a lot of) young or fruit, or (of seeds or eggs) able to develop into
a new plant or animal
People get less fertile as they get older.
Rabbits are notoriously fertile, producing vast numbers of offspring.
The eggs which are not fertile are selected to be eaten.
fertility
noun [U] a fertility symbol
There's a lot of concern over declining fertility rates.
You can take special drugs to increase your fertility.
fertilize, British and Australian usually -ise
verb [T] 1. To fertilize the sexual cells in a female animal or plant is to join with them so that young begin to be
produced.
The male sperm fertilizes the female egg.
The flower is fertilized by the pollen which is carried by the bee.
fertilization, British and Australian usually -isation
noun [U] In humans, fertilization is more likely to occur at certain times of the month.
Fertilization occurs as the eggs are laid.