cross-fertilizationnoun [ U ]
UK usually cross-fertilisation uk/ˌkrɒs.fɜː.tɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/us/ˌkrɑːs.fɝː.t̬ə.ləˈzeɪ.ʃən/the mixing of the ideas, customs, etc. of different places or groups of people, to produce a better result
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Mixing and mixtures
- be neither one thing nor the other idiom
- beat
- blend
- blend in/blend into sth
- brew
- churn
- cocktail
- concoction
- decoction
- emulsion
- impure
- intermingle
- meld
- mingle
- mixture
- neither
- preparation
- roll
- rolled into one idiom
- substance
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Examples from literature
- And flowers, by their nectar, color, and odor, compete for the visits of insects, which insure cross-fertilization.
- In the greenhouse a hive of bees is kept so that cross-fertilization may go on.
- Pansies are the easiest of plants to grow from seed, and they offer a ready response to experiments with cross-fertilization.
- The colors of flowers seem to exist mainly for the attraction of insects to insure cross-fertilization, and certain insects seem to prefer certain colors.
- Therefore, if nuts for seed are desired, keep each grove of pure strain separate that there may be no deterioration owing to cross-fertilization.