/kraws"ferr'tl euh zay"sheuhn, kros"-/ , n.
1. Biol. the fertilization of an organism by the fusion of an egg from one individual with a sperm or male gamete from a different individual.
2. Bot. fertilization of the flower of one plant by a gamete from the flower of a closely related plant (opposed to self-fertilization ).
3. (not in technical use) cross-pollination.
4. interaction or interchange, as between two or more cultures, fields of activity or knowledge, or the like, that is mutually beneficial and productive: a cross-fertilization of scientific and technical disciplines.
[ 1875-80 ]