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   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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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › sterile

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   The meaning of STERILE is failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores. How to use sterile in a sentence.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › sterile

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   1. free from living germs or microorganisms; aseptic. 2. incapable of producing offspring; infertile. 3. barren; not producing vegetation: sterile soil. 4. a. noting a plant in which reproductive structures fail to develop. b. bearing no stamens or pistils. 5. not productive of results, ideas, etc.; fruitless. ste•ril•i•ty (stəˈrɪl ɪ ti) n.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   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. A person or animal that is sterile is unable to have or produce babies. George was sterile. ...a sterile male. This disease causes sterility in both males and females.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of sterile – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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

11. www.yourdictionary.com › sterileSterile Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › sterile

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    Producing little or nothing; unfruitful. Sterile soil, a sterile policy. Unable or failing to bear fruit or spores, as a plant, or to germinate, as a seed. Lacking in interest or vitality; not stimulating or effective. A sterile style. Free from living microorganisms; esp., aseptic.