2. (Bot.) (a) Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers. (b) 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.
Syn. — 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.
FERTILELY
Fer"tile*ly ( or ; 277), adv.
Defn: In a fertile or fruitful manner.
FERTILENESS fer"tile*ness, n.
Defn: Fertility. Sir P. Sidney.
FERTILITATE
Fer*til"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To fertilize; to fecundate. Sir T. Browne.
FERTILITY
Fer*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fertilitas: cf. F. fertilité.]