fertilization

UK: ˌfɜː.tɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən | US: ˌfɜːr.t̬əl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən

Definition

  1. n. the process of fertilizing; the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote

  2. n. the enrichment of soil with nutrients to promote plant growth

  3. n. (figurative) the act of making something fruitful or productive

Structure
fertil <fertile, productive>ization <process of making>fertil <fertile, productive>ization <process of making>
Etymology

The word traces back to Latin fertilis, which originally described land capable of bearing crops. Over time, it expanded to biological contexts (e.g., gamete fusion) and metaphorical uses (e.g., intellectual productivity). The suffix -ization systematized the term to denote the process of making something fertile, reflecting scientific and agricultural advancements.

Examples

  1. Pollination is essential for the fertilization of flowering plants.

  2. Farmers use compost to improve soil fertilization.

  3. The fertilization of ideas during brainstorming led to a breakthrough.

  4. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has revolutionized reproductive medicine.

  5. Over-fertilization can harm ecosystems by causing algal blooms.