Dictionary    Maps    Thesaurus    Translate    Advanced >   


Tip: Click Thesaurus above for synonyms. Also, follow synonym links within the dictionary to find definitions from other sources.

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
sterile
    adj 1: incapable of reproducing; "an infertile couple" [syn:
           sterile, unfertile, infertile] [ant: fertile]
    2: free of or using methods to keep free of pathological
       microorganisms; "a sterile operating area"; "aseptic surgical
       instruments"; "aseptic surgical techniques" [syn: aseptic,
       sterile]
    3: deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of
       invention; "a sterile ideology lacking in originality";
       "unimaginative development of a musical theme"; "uninspired
       writing" [syn: sterile, unimaginative, uninspired,
       uninventive]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sterile \Ster"ile\, a. [F. st['e]rile, L. sterilis, akin to Gr.
   stereo`s stiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that
   has not calved, Goth. stair[=o], fem., barren. See Stare to
   gaze.]
   1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful;
      unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile
      desert; a sterile year.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Biol.)
      (a) Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction
          of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit;
          unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only
          stamens.
      (b) Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile
          fluid.
          [1913 Webster]

   3. Fig.: Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a
      sterile production or author.
      [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Sterile:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
abortive, acarpous, antiseptic, arid, aseptic, bare, barren, blah, blank, bloodless, boiled, bootless, celibate, characterless, childless, cold, colorless, counterproductive, dead, decontaminated, desert, desolate, disinfected, dismal, draggy, drained, drearisome, dreary, dried-up, dry, dryasdust, dull, dusty, effete, elephantine, empty, etiolated, exhausted, fade, fallow, fatuitous, fatuous, feckless, flat, fruitless, futile, gainless, gaunt, gelded, heavy, ho-hum, hollow, hygienic, impotent, inadequate, inane, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, inexcitable, infecund, infertile, inoperative, insipid, invalid, issueless, jejune, leached, leaden, lifeless, low-spirited, menopausal, noncreative, nonfertile, nonproducing, nonproductive, nonprolific, nonremunerative, nugacious, nugatory, of no force, otiose, pale, pallid, pasteurized, pedestrian, plodding, pointless, poky, ponderous, profitless, prophylactic, pure, rewardless, sanitary, sine prole, slow, solemn, spiritless, stale, sterilized, stiff, stodgy, stuffy, sucked dry, superficial, tasteless, tedious, teemless, unavailing, uncontaminated, uncreative, uncultivated, unfertile, unfruitful, uninfected, uninspired, uninventive, unlively, unplowed, unpolluted, unproductive, unprofitable, unprolific, unremunerative, unrewarding, unsown, untilled, useless, vain, vapid, virgin, waste, wasted, without issue, wooden, worn-out
Common Misspellings >
Most Popular Searches: Define Misanthrope, Define Pulchritudinous, Define Happy, Define Veracity, Define Cornucopia, Define Almuerzo, Define Atresic, Define URL, Definitions Of Words, Definition Of Get Up, Definition Of Quid Pro Quo, Definition Of Irreconcilable Differences, Definition Of Word, Synonyms of Repetitive, Synonym Dictionary, Synonym Antonyms. See our main index and map index for more details.

©2011-2024 ZebraWords.com - Define Yourself - The Search for Meanings and Meaning Means I Mean. All content subject to terms and conditions as set out here. Contact Us, peruse our Privacy Policy