cross-pollinate
|cross-pol-li-nate|
🇺🇸
/ˌkrɔsˈpɑlɪneɪt/
🇬🇧
/ˌkrɒsˈpɒlɪneɪt/
mixing pollen
Etymology
'cross-pollinate' originates as a compound of the English word 'cross' and the verb 'pollinate'; 'pollinate' ultimately comes from Latin 'pollen' (genitive 'pollinis') meaning 'fine powder' or 'pollen', via Late/Neo-Latin formations.
'pollinate' developed from Latin 'pollen' → Late Latin/New Latin forms such as 'pollinare'/'pollinatus' and entered English as 'pollinate' in the 19th century; 'cross-pollinate' was later formed in English by combining 'cross' + 'pollinate' to denote pollination between different individuals or varieties.
Originally it referred specifically to the transfer of pollen between plants; over time the term has also been used metaphorically to describe the transfer or mixing of ideas, methods, or influences between different fields or groups.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to pollinate a plant with pollen from another plant or variety; to cause the transfer of pollen between different individuals or varieties (literal, biological).
Bees help cross-pollinate many fruit trees, transferring pollen from one variety to another.
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Verb 2
to exchange or mix ideas, methods, practices, or influences between different groups, disciplines, or cultures, producing new combinations or innovations (figurative).
Researchers cross-pollinated ideas from computer science and biology to design the new algorithm.
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Adjective 1
past participle form of 'cross-pollinate', used attributively to describe something that has been cross-pollinated.
A cross-pollinated crop may combine desirable traits from two parent varieties.
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Last updated: 2025/08/27 17:17