The Collaborative International Dictionary
cross-fertilisation \cross-fertilisation\, cross-fertilization \cross-fertilization\n. 1. fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from different individuals of the same species.
Wiktionary
alt. 1 Fertilization by the union of gametes of different plants (sometimes of different species). 2 (context by extension English) The mutual exchange of ideas or concepts from different fields for mutual benefit. n. 1 Fertilization by the union of gametes of different plants (sometimes of different species). 2 (context by extension English) The mutual exchange of ideas or concepts from different fields for mutual benefit.
WordNet
n. fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from different individual of the same species [syn: cross-fertilisation] [ant: self-fertilization]
interchange between different cultures or different ways of thinking that is mutually productive and beneficial; "the cross-fertilization of science and the creative arts" [syn: cross-fertilisation]
Usage examples of "cross-fertilization".
Second, the Illuminati are too small a group to enjoy the creative cross-fertilization necessary to progress of any kind, and they have been unable to advance much beyond the technological level they reached thirty thousand years ago.
It was delicate work, requiring them to take the most exacting pains to avoid accidental cross-fertilization and to note every slight variation in the growth and appearance of seeds, pods, leaves, stems, and flowers.
I—er—had hoped that a—ah—a useful cross-fertilization of our—ah—mutual—"
Ierhad hoped that aaha useful cross-fertilization of ourahmutual"
The stigma grows up through the tube formed by the anthers, pushing the pollen before it, and insects smearing themselves with this pollen carry it to the stigmas of other flowers already expanded, thus insuring cross-fertilization.