cross-pollination
|cross-pol-li-na-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌkrɔːsˌpɑːləˈneɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌkrɒsˌpɒlɪˈneɪʃən/
exchange of genetic or conceptual material
Etymology
'cross-pollination' originates from the combination of 'cross' and 'pollination', where 'cross' refers to 'across' or 'between' and 'pollination' refers to the process of transferring pollen.
'Cross-pollination' evolved from the agricultural practice of transferring pollen between different plants to enhance genetic diversity.
Initially, it meant 'transferring pollen between plants', but over time it evolved to include the exchange of ideas or concepts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower of a plant having a different genetic constitution.
Cross-pollination can result in hybrid plants with new traits.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/16 07:17