Pollinate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the act of transferring pollen from the male part to the female part of the same or another flower, leading to fertilization.

• Bees help pollinate flowers, ensuring they can produce seeds.
• Gardeners often plant flowers that pollinate naturally to enhance their garden's growth.

Generally used to refer to the process of male reproductive cells combining with female reproductive cells, leading to the development of seeds or embryos. It is used in both botanical and animal reproduction contexts.

• The farmer fertilized the soil to ensure the crops would grow well.
• Insects play a crucial role in helping to fertilize plants by transporting pollen.

Used when referring to the transfer of pollen between flowers of different plants of the same species. This often occurs in agricultural or gardening contexts where genetic diversity is desired.

• Farmers cross-pollinate different types of corn to create hardier plants.
• Botanists are attempting to cross-pollinate these two species to develop a new hybrid.

A less commonly used synonym for pollinate, often in specialized or scientific contexts. It refers to the act of applying pollen to a plant.

• Researchers in the lab manually pollenize the plants to control genetic outcomes.
• Certain insects and birds pollenize specific flowers, aiding in their reproduction.