verb (used with object),fer·ti·lized,fer·ti·liz·ing.
Biology.
to render (the female gamete) capable of development by uniting it with the male gamete.
to fecundate or impregnate (an animal or plant).
to make fertile; enrich: to fertilize farmland.
to make productive.
Also especially British, fer·ti·lise .
Origin of fertilize
First recorded in 1640–50; fertile + -ize
OTHER WORDS FROM fertilize
fer·ti·liz·a·ble,adjectivefer·ti·liz·a·bil·i·ty,nouno·ver·fer·ti·lize,verb (used with object),o·ver·fer·ti·lized,o·ver·fer·ti·liz·ing.pre·fer·ti·lize,verb (used with object),pre·fer·ti·lized,pre·fer·ti·liz·ing.
re·fer·ti·liz·a·ble,adjectivere·fer·ti·lize,verb (used with object),re·fer·ti·lized,re·fer·ti·liz·ing.un·fer·ti·liz·a·ble,adjectiveun·fer·ti·lized,adjectiveun·fer·ti·liz·ing,adjective