fertilization
[ fur-tl-uh-zey-shuh n ]
/ ˌfɜr tl əˈzeɪ ʃən /
noun
an act, process, or instance of fertilizing.
the state of being fertilized.
Biology.
- the union of male and female gametic nuclei.
- fecundation or impregnation of animals or plants.
the enrichment of soil, as for the production of crops.
OTHER WORDS FROM fertilization
fer·ti·li·za·tion·al, adjective o·ver·fer·ti·li·za·tion, noun pre·fer·ti·li·za·tion, noun re·fer·ti·li·za·tion, nounWords nearby fertilization
fertility,
fertility cult,
fertility drug,
fertility factor,
fertility symbol,
fertilization,
fertilize,
fertilizer,
fertilizin,
ferula,
ferule
Example sentences from the Web for fertilization
British Dictionary definitions for fertilization
fertilization
fertilisation
/ (ˌfɜːtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən) /
noun
the union of male and female gametes, during sexual reproduction, to form a zygote
the act or process of fertilizing
the state of being fertilized
Medical definitions for fertilization
fertilization
[ fûr′tl-ĭ-zā′shən ]
n.
The union of male and female gametes to form a zygote, a process that begins with the penetration of the secondary oocyte by the spermatozoon and is completed with the fusion of the male and female pronuclei.
Scientific definitions for fertilization
fertilization
[ fûr′tl-ĭ-zā′shən ]
The process by which two gametes (reproductive cells having a single, haploid set of chromosomes) fuse to become a zygote, which develops into a new organism. The resultant zygote is diploid (it has two sets of chromosomes). In cross-fertilization, the two gametes come from two different individual organisms. In self-fertilization, the gametes come from the same individual. Fertilization includes the union of the cytoplasm of the gametes (called plasmogamy) followed by the union of the nuclei of the two gametes (called karyogamy). Among many animals, such as mammals, fertilization occurs inside the body of the female. Among fish, eggs are fertilized in the water. Among plants, fertilization of eggs occurs within the reproductive structures of the parent plant, such as the ovules of gymnosperms and angiosperms. See Note at pollination.
The process of making soil more productive of plant growth, as by the addition of organic material or fertilizer.
Other words from fertilization
fertilize verbCultural definitions for fertilization
fertilization
The joining of sex cells to form a new living thing. In humans, a male sperm joins a female ovum, or egg; the resulting zygote divides into a multicelled structure that implants in the womb and grows into an embryo. In plants, pollen grains, containing the male sex cells, enter the female sex cells in the pistil; from this union, fruit eventually grows. When fertilization occurs within a single flower, we call it self-fertilization. (See cross-fertilization.)