fertilizationn.
/ˌfəːtᵻlʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, /ˌfəːtl̩ʌɪˈzeɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌfərdl̩əˈzeɪʃən/, /ˌfərdəˌlaɪˈzeɪʃən/ a. The action or process of rendering fertile.
ΘΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > [noun] > making
fertilization1863
greening1919
1863 J. G. Murphy Crit. Comm. Bk. Gen. (xii. 11–13) 304 The two sides of the Nile, its fertilization by a natural cause.
b. spec. Biology. Fecundation; see fertilize v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > fecundation or impregnation > [noun]
pregnation?a1425
seasoning1511
fecundation?1541
impregnation1605
fructifying1638
adosculation1682
foetification1720
fertilization1837
1837 W. Whewell Hist. Inductive Sci. III. xvi. ii. 261 The fertilization of the date-palms.
1862 C. Darwin On Var. Contrivances Orchids Fertilised i. 33 These species..require the aid of insects for their fertilization.
1882 S. H. Vines tr. J. von Sachs Text-bk. Bot. (ed. 2) 525 The first manifest result of fertilisation in the oospore is the division of its nucleus.
c. figurative.
ΘΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > productiveness > [noun] > making or becoming productive or fruitful
incrementationc1420
fructification1604
fructifying1638
fertilization1922
1922 H. Crane Let. 7 Nov. (1965) 104 This wholesale ‘fertilization’ of America by such half-baked people as the Algonquin gang.
1933 E. K. Chambers Eng. Folk-play 11 An extreme case of fertilization from a distance is at Icomb in Gloucestershire, where a second act must have been added from a Scottish source.
1957 E. Sitwell Coll. Poems 423 The fertilisation of his singing breath.
Compounds
fertilization tube n. Mycology a tube-like outgrowth of the antheridium in certain phycomycetous fungi which penetrates the oogonium and forms a passage for a male nucleus to reach an egg.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > spore or sporule > cryptogam or plant having spores > [noun] > parts of > antheridium or male sex organ > outgrowth of
fertilization tube1887
1887 H. E. F. Garnsey & I. B. Balfour tr. H. A. de Bary Compar. Morphol. & Biol. Fungi v. 134 When the oosphere has been formed in the oogonium, the antheridium sends a delicate cylindrical or conical tube~like process, the fertilisation-tube, from the part of its surface which is in contact with the oogonium into the interior of the latter.
1930 H. M. Fitzpatrick Lower Fungi vii. 153 As soon as the oospheres are differentiated the antheridia form delicate fertilization tubes.
1970 J. Webster Introd. Fungi 72 Fertilisation is accomplished by the penetration of fertilisation tubes into the eggs.
Derivatives
ˌfertiliˈzational adj. of or pertaining to fertilization.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > fecundation or impregnation > [adjective]
fertilitating1646
fecundating1721
fecundatory1839
impregnatory1857
fertilizational1888
impregnational1888
1888 J. T. Gulick in Linn. Soc. Jrnl. XX. 233 I venture to call this principle Fertilizational Segregation.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1837