cross-fertilize

verb

To undergo (or cause to undergo) cross-fertilization.

Similar
cross-fertilise
OriginEnglish fertilize ← Middle English cros- ← Old English cros →
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Meanings

verbcross-fertilize (third-person singular simple present cross-fertilizes, present participle cross-fertilizing, simple past and past participle cross-fertilized)

present singular third person cross-fertilizes · participle present cross-fertilizing · participle past cross-fertilized · past cross-fertilized · alternative cross-fertilise

  1. To undergo (or cause to undergo) cross-fertilization.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbundergo cross-fertilization; become fertile

Similar
cross-fertilise
Broader
change stateturn

verbcause to undergo cross-fertilization

Similar
cross-fertilise
Broader
inseminatefecundatefertilize
Also see
cross

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)ker-der.?
  2. Proto-Italic*kruks /*krukis
  3. Latincrux
  4. Old Irishcros
  5. Old Norsekross
  6. Old Englishcros
  7. Middle Englishcross
  8. Middle Englishcros-
  9. Englishcross-
  10. Englishfertilize
  11. Englishcross-fertilize

From cross- + fertilize.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Irish cros-toirchigh
  • cros-toirchighto undergo (or cause to undergo) cross-fertilization
Welsh croesi
  • croesito undergo (or cause to undergo) cross-fertilization
Cite this entry
APA

cross-fertilize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-fertilize

MLA

“cross-fertilize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-fertilize. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cross-fertilize,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-fertilize.

Source: cross-fertilize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.