Pronunciation: (krôs'fûr"tl-u-zā'shun, kros'-), Strict Standards: Non-static method FenSites::linkTo() should not be called statically in /site/html/dictionary/cross-fertilization.html on line 75 [key]
1. Biol.the fertilization of an organism by the fusion of an egg from one individual with a sperm or male gamete from a different individual.
2. Bot.fertilization of the flower of one plant by a gamete from the flower of a closely related plant (opposed to self-fertilization).
3. (not in technical use) cross-pollination.
4. interaction or interchange, as between two or more cultures, fields of activity or knowledge, or the like, that is mutually beneficial and productive: a cross-fertilization of scientific and technical disciplines.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.