n.
Pronunciation: ˌ f ə r-t ə -l ə - ' z ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Date: circa 1787
: an act or process of making fertile: as a : the application of fertilizer b (1) : an act or process of fecundation, insemination, or pollination ― not used technically (2) : the process of union of two gametes whereby the somatic chromosome number is restored and the development of a new individual is initiated