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Glite Dictionary
🌸 To mix genes 💡 To combine ideas
to cross-fertilize

to cross-fertilize

5.8
To share ideas between different fields to create new ways or solutions
  • verb
  • /ˈkrɔsˌfɜr.tɪ.laɪz/
  • Formal
translation icon : intercambiar ideas
  • By cross-fertilising methods from sociology and economics, researchers found new solutions to complex problems.

And instead what they found is they can learn in each of the schools and then cross fertilize.

Examples

  • They cross-fertilised insights from design and engineering to develop a more user-friendly product.

  • The team aims to cross-fertilize ideas across departments.

  • The conference aimed to cross-fertilise ideas between biology and data science to boost innovation.

  • We should cross-fertilize our knowledge with other fields.

  • The conference aimed to cross-fertilize ideas between biology and data science to boost innovation.

  • By cross-fertilizing methods from sociology and economics, researchers found new solutions to complex problems.

  • They cross-fertilized insights from design and engineering to create a more efficient workflow.

Synonyms

to cross-pollinate
vsto cross-fertilize
5.8

Share ideas from different groups to make something new

focuses on combining approaches across different fields to spark innovation

How Collaborative

to cross-fertilize
  • Formal
5.8
to integrate
179 4.1
exchange
515 2.1
to share
711 1.0

Surface Forms

cross-fertilize infinitive
cross-fertilized past
cross-fertilized past participle
cross-fertilizing present participle
cross-fertilizes third person singular

Morphology

cross-fertilize = fertilize (semi-transparent) = cross + fertilize

The metaphorical extension from biological fertilization to exchanging or combining ideas is regular but requires recognizing a figurative transfer of meaning.

Etymology

Cross-fertilize is also used for ideas: cross 'between' and fertilize 'to make fertile' give an image of ideas helping each other grow. So when people say teams cross-fertilize ideas, they mean different ways of thinking are mixed to create new ideas.