ster·ile (st r l, - l )adj.1. Not producing or incapable of producing offspring. 2. a. Not producing or incapable of producing seed, fruit spores, or other reproductive structures. Used of plants or their parts. b. Producing little or no vegetation; unfruitful: sterile land. 3. Free from live bacteria or other microorganisms: a sterile operating area; sterile instruments. 4. Lacking imagination, creativity, or vitality. 5. Lacking the power to function; not productive or effective; fruitless: a sterile discussion.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin sterilis.]
ster ile·ly adv. |
sterile Adjective
1. free from germs
2. unable to produce offspring
3. (of plants) not producing or bearing seeds
4. lacking inspiration or energy; unproductive [Latin sterilis]
sterility n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | sterile - incapable of reproducing; "an infertile couple"unfruitful - not fruitful; not conducive to abundant production impotent - lacking power or ability; "Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent"- Freeman J.Dyson; "felt impotent rage" unproductive - not producing or capable of producing; "elimination of high-cost or unproductive industries" |
| 2. | sterile - free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms; "a sterile operating area"; "aseptic surgical instruments"; "aseptic surgical techniques"antiseptic - thoroughly clean and free of or destructive to disease-causing organisms; "doctors in antiseptic green coats"; "the antiseptic effect of alcohol"; "it is said that marjoram has antiseptic qualities" |
| 3. | sterile - deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention; "a sterile ideology lacking in originality"; "unimaginative development of a musical theme"; "uninspired writing"uncreative - not creative; "an uncreative imagination" |
sterile
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