fertilization

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the union of male and female gametes to begin the development of a new organism

   Fertilization occurs when pollen reaches the ovule.

2. 2
   noun

   the process of making soil or plants fertile by adding fertilizer

   The field needed fertilization before the next crop was planted.

From French fertilisation; in English, fertilize plus -ation. The biological sense names the process that makes development possible, while the agricultural sense keeps the older idea of making soil fertile.

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