Library / English Dictionary

FERTILISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Introduce semen into (a female)

Synonyms:

fecundate; fertilise; fertilize; inseminate

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "fertilise" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fertilise"):

stratify (render fertile and preserve by placing between layers of earth or sand)

bang up; impregnate; knock up; prang up (make pregnant)

impregnate (fertilize and cause to grow)

cross-fertilise; cross-fertilize (cause to undergo cross-fertilization)

cross-pollinate; pollenate; pollinate (fertilize by transfering pollen)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Provide with fertilizers or add nutrients to

Example:

We should fertilize soil if we want to grow healthy plants

Synonyms:

feed; fertilise; fertilize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fertilise" is one way to...):

enrich (make better or improve in quality)

Domain category:

agriculture; farming; husbandry (the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "fertilise"):

nitrify (treat (soil) with nitrates)

dung (fertilize or dress with dung)

topdress (scatter manure or fertilizer over (land))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make fertile or productive

Example:

The course fertilized her imagination

Synonyms:

fecundate; fertilise; fertilize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "fertilise" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

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