Meaning & Definition of word "Fertilization"

Fertilization

/ˌfɜːrtɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən/

noun:

  • 1. The process of making soil or land fertile by adding substances (such as fertilizer) to it.
    • Example: Crop yields significantly increased after the fertilization of the fields.
  • 2. The union of a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (ovum) to form a zygote.
    • Example: Fertilization usually occurs in the fallopian tubes of the female reproductive system.
  • 3. The act of fertilizing or the state of being fertilized.
    • Example: The timing of fertilization is crucial for successful plant reproduction.

Etymology

From Latin 'fertilis', meaning fertile, and 'facere', meaning to make.

Common Phrases and Expressions

in vitro fertilization:

A medical procedure in which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body.

artificial fertilization:

The technique of introducing sperm into the female reproductive system by means other than natural coitus.

Related Words

fertile:

Capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.

fertility:

The ability to produce offspring or plants.

Slang Meanings of fertilization