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cross-fertilize definition

cross·-fertilize (krôs′fʉrt′'l īz′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb cross-fertilized -·lized′, cross-fertilizing -·liz′ing

  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:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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