Definify.com

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 2025

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

German

Adjective

sterile

  1. strong feminine singular nominative form of steril.
  2. strong feminine singular accusative form of steril.
  3. strong plural nominative form of steril.
  4. strong plural accusative form of steril.
  5. weak masculine singular nominative form of steril.
  6. weak feminine singular nominative form of steril.
  7. weak feminine singular accusative form of steril.
  8. weak neuter singular nominative form of steril.
  9. weak neuter singular accusative form of steril.
  10. mixed feminine singular nominative form of steril.
  11. mixed feminine singular accusative form of steril.

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

Etymology

From Middle French stérile, from Latin sterilis ‎(“barren, futile”). See also Ancient Greek στεῖρα ‎(steîra).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: stĕr'əl, stĕr'īl"
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈstɛɹəl/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈstɛɹaɪl/
  • Rhymes: -ɛɹəl, -ɛɹaɪl

Similar Results