/ ˈfɜːtaɪl; NAmE ˈfɜːrtl/ adjective
1.
( of land or soil ) that plants grow well in :
a fertile region
OPP infertile
2.
( of people, animals or plants ) that can produce babies, young animals, fruit or new plants :
The treatment has been tested on healthy fertile women under the age of 35.
OPP infertile
3.
[ usually before noun ] that produces good results; that encourages activity :
a fertile partnership
The region at the time was fertile ground for revolutionary movements (= there were the necessary conditions for them to develop easily) .
4.
[ usually before noun ] ( of a person's mind or imagination ) that produces a lot of new ideas :
the product of a fertile imagination
—compare sterile
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via French from Latin fertilis , from ferre to bear.