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1. Dictionary

   sterile

   /ˈstɛrʌɪl/

   adjective

   • 1. not able to produce children or young: "the disease had made him sterile" Similar infertilechildlesstechnical:infecundarchaic:barrenOpposite fertilefecund
   • ▪ (of a plant) not able to produce fruit or seeds: "the peppermints are vigorous sterile hybrids"
   • ▪ (of land or soil) too poor in quality to produce crops: "vast tracts of sterile desert land" Similar unproductiveinfertileunfruitfuluncultivatableariddrybarrenlifelessdesertOpposite richfertileproductive
   • ▪ lacking in imagination, creativity, or excitement; uninspiring or unproductive: "he found the fraternity's teachings sterile" Similar pointlessprofitlessunproductiveunfruitfulfruitlessunrewardingabortiveunsuccessfulineffectualineffectiveworthlessuselessunprofitablefutilevainidlearchaic:bootlessrare:unfructuousunimaginativeuninspireduninspiringunoriginalderivativestalelifelessmustyOpposite fruitfulcreativeoriginal
   • 2. free from bacteria or other living microorganisms; totally clean: "a sterile needle and syringes" Similar asepticsterilizedgerm-freeantisepticdisinfecteduninfecteduncontaminatedunpollutedpurecleansanitaryhygienicOpposite septic

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin sterilis; related to Greek steira ‘barren cow’. sterile (sense 2) dates from the late 19th century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. sterilely adverb

   Scrabble Points: 7

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSTERILE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   STERILE definition: 1. (of a living being) unable to produce young, or (of land) unable to produce plants or crops: 2…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › sterileSterile Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › sterile

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   1. a. : failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores. b. : failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring. a sterile hybrid. c. : incapable of germinating. sterile spores. d. of a flower : neither perfect nor pistillate. 2. a. : unproductive of vegetation. a sterile arid region. b.

4. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishsterile adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of sterile adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSTERILE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Definition of 'sterile' sterile. (steraɪl , US -rəl ) 1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from germs. He always made sure that any cuts were protected by sterile dressings. Urine is sterile. Synonyms: germ-free, antiseptic, sterilized, disinfected More Synonyms of sterile.

6. www.thefreedictionary.com › sterileSterile - definition of sterile by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › sterile

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   1. a. Not producing or incapable of producing offspring. b. Not producing or incapable of producing seed, fruit, spores, or other reproductive structures. Used of plants or their parts. 2. Producing little or no vegetation; unfruitful: sterile land. 3. Free from live bacteria or other microorganisms: a sterile operating area; sterile instruments.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › sterileSterile - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › sterile

   When you hear about a sterile person, it means they can't have kids: sterile women can't get pregnant, and sterile men can't be fathers. But the concept of sterility applies to things, too. An empty, white room with nothing in it is sterile.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySTERILE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   STERILE meaning: 1. (of a living being) unable to produce young, or (of land) unable to produce plants or crops: 2…. Learn more.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySTERILE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   STERILE meaning: 1. completely clean and without any bacteria: 2. unable to produce children 3. not having enough…. Learn more.

10. www.britannica.com › dictionary › sterileSterile Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    www.britannica.com › dictionary › sterile

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    a disease that causes sterility. emotional/creative sterility. STERILE meaning: 1 : not able to produce crops or plants; 2 : not able to produce children, young animals, etc.

11. www.oed.com › dictionary › sterile_adjsterile, adj. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English ...

    www.oed.com › dictionary › sterile_adj

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    There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective sterile, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. sterile has developed meanings and uses in subjects including.