pollinate
UK: ˈpɒlɪneɪt | US: ˈpɑːləneɪt
vt. to transfer pollen from the male part to the female part of a flower, enabling fertilization
vt. (figuratively) to spread or disseminate something widely
The word "pollinate" derives from Latin pollen (meaning "fine flour" or "dust"), which evolved to specifically refer to the fertilizing powder of flowers. The suffix -ate (from Latin -atus) turns nouns into verbs, indicating the action of spreading pollen. The term emerged in botanical contexts in the early 17th century, reflecting the scientific understanding of plant reproduction.
Bees pollinate flowers as they collect nectar.
Wind can also pollinate certain types of plants.
Farmers rely on insects to pollinate their crops.
The botanist explained how birds pollinate tropical flowers.
Without bees, many ecosystems would struggle to pollinate naturally.