ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ə̇ˈzāshən, -ˌīˈz- noun
( -s )
1. : the act or process of making or becoming fertile:
a.
(1) : the application of fertilizer
(2) : the bringing about or promoting of an intellectual or economic development : enrichment
b.
(1) : the act or process of fecundation, insemination, impregnation, or pollination — not often used technically
(2) : the process of union of two germ cells whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated in animals typically involving penetration of a large passive female cell by a smaller active male cell followed by completion of the maturation of the female cell and by fusion of the haploid gamete pronuclei to form a diploid synkaryon within a new initially unicellular zygote and in most seed plants depending upon penetration of the ovule and embryo sac containing the egg by a pollen tube that discharges the nonmotile male nucleus — compare conjugation , double fertilization , parthenogenesis , polyspermy
2. : an instance of fertilization
• fer·til·iza·tion·al | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷|zāshən ə l, -shnəl adjective