English adjective: sterile | |||
| 1. | sterile incapable of reproducing | ||
| Samples | An infertile couple. | ||
| Synonyms | infertile, unfertile | ||
| Similar | barren, sterilised, sterilized, unfertilised, unfertilized, unimpregnated | ||
| See also | impotent, unfruitful, unproductive | ||
| Attribute | fecundity, fertility | ||
| Antonyms | fertile | ||
| 2. | sterile free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms | ||
| Samples | A sterile operating area. Aseptic surgical instruments. Aseptic surgical techniques. | ||
| Synonyms | aseptic | ||
| Similar | antiseptic | ||
| Antonyms | infected, septic | ||
| 3. | sterile deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention | ||
| Samples | A sterile ideology lacking in originality. Unimaginative development of a musical theme. Uninspired writing. | ||
| Synonyms | unimaginative, uninspired, uninventive | ||
| Similar | uncreative | ||
| Antonyms | creative, originative | ||