STERILE


Meaning of STERILE in English

— sterilely , adv. — sterility /steuh ril"i tee/ , sterileness , n.

/ster"il/ or, esp. Brit., /-uyl/ , adj.

1. free from living germs or microorganisms; aseptic: sterile surgical instruments.

2. incapable of producing offspring; not producing offspring.

3. barren; not producing vegetation: sterile soil.

4. Bot.

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.

[ 1545-55; sterilis unfruitful ]

Syn. 2. infecund, unfruitful.

Ant. 2, 3. fertile.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .