cross-pollinate

verb

To fertilize by the transfer of pollen from an anther of one plant to the stigma of another.

Similar
pollinatepollenate
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Meanings

verbcross-pollinate (third-person singular simple present cross-pollinates, present participle cross-pollinating, simple past and past participle cross-pollinated)

present singular third person cross-pollinates · participle present cross-pollinating · participle past cross-pollinated · past cross-pollinated

  1. transitivebiologyTo fertilize by the transfer of pollen from an anther of one plant to the stigma of another.
  2. figurativelytransitiveTo inspire, stimulate, or influence between diverse elements.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbfertilize by transferring pollen

Similar
pollinatepollenate
Broader
inseminatefecundatefertilize
Also see
pollinate

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From cross- + pollinate.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cross-pollinate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-pollinate

MLA

“cross-pollinate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-pollinate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cross-pollinate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross-pollinate.

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