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1. Dictionary

   ster·ile

   /ˈsterəl/

   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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   a. : unproductive of vegetation. a sterile arid region. b. : free from living organisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms. a sterile syringe. c. : lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless. a sterile work of art.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › sterileSTERILE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › sterile

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   Sterile definition: free from living germs or microorganisms; aseptic. See examples of STERILE used in a sentence.

5. 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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Definition of 'sterile' Word Frequency. 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.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   (of a discussion, an argument, etc.) not producing any useful result synonym fruitless. We need to focus on solving the problem rather than continuing the sterile debate on how it came about. Extra Examples. not having individual personality, imagination or new ideas. The room felt cold and sterile. He felt creatively and emotionally sterile.

8. 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.