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cross-fertilize

(krôs′fʉrt'l īz′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb cross-fertilized, cross-fertilizing

  1. to fertilize or be fertilized by pollen with different genes
    1. to fertilize or be fertilized by a male gamete from another animal, as in the mutual exchange of sperm between individuals in a hermaphroditic species
    2. to fuse a male and female gamete derived from different varieties or species

Related Forms:

See cross-fertilize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intr. & tr.v. cross-fer·til·ized, cross-fer·til·iz·ing, cross-fer·til·iz·es
To undergo or cause to undergo cross-fertilization.
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