to cross-fertilize
- verb
- /ˈkrɔsˌfɜr.tɪ.laɪz/
- Specialized
- Gregor Mendel famously cross-fertilized pea plants to understand how traits are inherited.
Examples
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Gardeners often cross-fertilize flowers in order to produce new and interesting varieties.
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The scientists decided to cross-fertilize the two plant species to observe the characteristics of the hybrids.
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The scientists plan to cross-fertilize the plants.
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We need to cross-fertilize these two species.
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Gardeners often cross-fertilize flowers in order to produce new and interesting varieties.
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The scientists decided to cross-fertilize the two plant species to observe the characteristics of the hybrids.
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Gregor Mendel famously cross-fertilized pea plants to understand how traits are inherited.
Synonyms
To breed two different varieties or species to produce offspring
To cross two different plants or animals to make a new kind
To make an animal or plant by mating two different kinds
To mate with another animal or plant of a different type
Move pollen from one flower to another so the plants can make seeds
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Cross-fertilize comes from farming: cross means 'between' and fertilize means 'to make fertile' or 'help grow'. Gardeners mix pollen from one plant with another to combine their features, so to cross-fertilize is to mix two plants to make new types.