pollinate

verb

Meaning

Transfer pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part to enable fertilization.

Examples

Bees and butterflies pollinate many of the crops we rely on for food.
Some plants are pollinated by the wind rather than by insects.

Synonyms: fertilize, cross-pollinate

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pollinate

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɒl.ɪ.neɪt/

Definition

Transfer pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part to enable fertilization.

Examples

Bees and butterflies pollinate many of the crops we rely on for food.
Some plants are pollinated by the wind rather than by insects.
Gardeners often plant native flowers to attract birds that help pollinate their vegetable patches.

How to Use pollinate

pollinate [something] (collocation): to perform the action of pollination on a specific plant or crop — "Farmers rely on imported bees to pollinate their almond orchards."
be pollinated by [agent] (prepositional phrase): to receive pollen from a specific source (passive voice) — "Many orchids are pollinated by specific species of moths."

Synonyms of pollinate

Words with a similar meaning to pollinate:

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