online medical dictionary | definition of fertile

1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able to produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive; rich; inventive; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or imagination. "Though he in a fertile climate dwell." (Shak)

2. <botany> Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers. Containing pollen; said of anthers.

3. Produced in abundance; plenteous; ample. "Henceforth, my early care . . . Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease Of thy full branches." (Milton)

Synonyms: Fertile, Fruitful.

Fertile implies the inherent power of production; fruitful, the act. The prairies of the West are fertile by nature, and are turned by cultivation into fruitful fields. The same distinction prevails when these words are used figuratively. A man of fertile genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a readiness of application which enable him to think and act effectively.

Origin: L. Fertiliz, fr. Ferr to bear, produce: cf. F. Fertile. See Bear to support.

(01 Mar 1998)