Sterile



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj.不孕的; 无细菌的
• ［英］ adj. 不孕的 ( incapable of producing offspring) ; 无细菌的 ( free from living organisms)

Webster Collegiate

adjective

• Etymology: Middle English steryle, from Latin sterilis; akin to Gothic stairo barren animal, Sanskrit starī sterile cow
• Date: 15th century
• 1.
  • a. failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores
  • b. failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring <a sterile hybrid>
  • c. incapable of germinating <sterile spores>
  • d. of a flower neither perfect nor pistillate
• 2.
  • a. unproductive of vegetation <a sterile arid region>
  • b. free from living organisms and especially microorganisms <a sterile syringe>
  • c. lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality ; lifeless <a sterile work of art>
• ? sterilely adverb
• ? sterility noun

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