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Webster 1913 Edition


Sterile

Ster′ile

,
Adj.
[F.
stérile
, L.
sterilis
, akin to Gr.
στερεόσ
stiff, solid,
στεῖροσ
barren,
στεῖρα
a cow that has not calved, Goth.
stairō
, fem., barren. See
Stare
to gaze.]
1.
Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile;
as,
sterile
land; a
sterile
desert; a
sterile
year
.
2.
(Biol.)
(a)
Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful;
as, a
sterile
flower, which bears only stamens
.
(b)
Free from reproductive spores or germs;
as, a
sterile
fluid
.
3.
Fig.: Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment;
as, a
sterile
production or author
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sterile

STERIL

, STERILE,
Adj.
[L.]
1.
Barren; unfruitful; not fertile; producing little or no crop; as sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year.
2.
Barren; producing no young.
3.
Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment, as a sterile production or author.
Sterile flower, in botany, is a term given by Tournefort to the male flower, or that which bears only stamens.

Definition 2024


sterile

sterile

See also: stérile

English

Adjective

sterile (comparative more sterile, superlative most sterile)

  1. (not comparable) Unable to reproduce (or procreate).
  2. Unprofitable.
  3. Germless; free from all living or viable microorganisms.
    a sterile kitchen table

Synonyms

Translations

Related terms

Anagrams


Italian

Adjective

sterile m, f (masculine and feminine plural sterili)

  1. sterile, barren, unprolific, infertile
  2. sterile, sterilized (medicine)
  3. vain, pointless
  4. unproductive

Related terms


Latin

Adjective

sterile

  1. nominative neuter singular of sterilis
  2. accusative neuter singular of sterilis
  3. vocative neuter singular of sterilis