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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

stérile

stérile

See also: sterile

French

Adjective

stérile m, f ‎(plural stériles)

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

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