What does "fertile" mean?

1. (productive land) describes soil or land that is very good for growing crops and plants. 2. (able to have offspring) able to produce babies, seeds, or eggs. 3. (creative and active) describes a mind or imagination that produces many original and interesting ideas. 4. (nuclear material) describes a material that can be turned into fuel for a nuclear reactor.

How do you use "fertile"?

Used specifically in nuclear physics and engineering contexts.

fertile

adj.

US //ˈfɝtəɫ// UK //fˈɜːtaɪl// fer·tile

1 productive land (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describes soil or land that is very good for growing crops and plants.

referring to land or soil that is capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.

Example

The valley has very fertile soil, so the farmers grow plenty of vegetables there.

Example

The volcanic ash had settled over centuries, creating a remarkably fertile plain that supported a dense population of agriculturalists.
2 able to have offspring (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

able to produce babies, seeds, or eggs.

biologically capable of reproducing or sustaining the development of an embryo.

Example

The vet confirmed that the horse was healthy and fertile.

Example

Couples often seek medical advice when they have difficulty conceiving during their most fertile years.
- fecund
- prolific
- sterile
- infertile

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3 creative and active (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describes a mind or imagination that produces many original and interesting ideas.

metaphorically applied to the mind or imagination to indicate a high capacity for generating new ideas or creative works.

Example

The young author has a very fertile imagination and writes a new story every week.

Example

The director's fertile mind constantly reinvented classic tropes, ensuring that every production felt contemporary and provocative.
- unimaginative
- stagnant
4 nuclear material (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

describes a material that can be turned into fuel for a nuclear reactor.

referring to a nuclide that is not itself fissile but can be converted into a fissile material through neutron capture.

Example

Thorium is a fertile material that can be used in certain types of nuclear reactors.

Example

The breeder reactor was designed to convert fertile isotopes into fissile fuel, theoretically extending the lifespan of the available uranium supply.

Usage

Used specifically in nuclear physics and engineering contexts.

Origin

From Middle English, from Middle French fertile, from Old French fertile, from Latin fertilis (“fruitful, fertile”), from ferō (“to bear, carry”).