'Sterile' definitions:
Definition of 'sterile'
(from WordNet)
adjective
adjective
Free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms; "a sterile operating area"; "aseptic surgical instruments"; "aseptic surgical techniques" [syn: aseptic, sterile]
adjective
Deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention; "a sterile ideology lacking in originality"; "unimaginative development of a musical theme"; "uninspired writing" [syn: sterile, unimaginative, uninspired, uninventive]
Definition of 'Sterile'
From: GCIDE
- Sterile \Ster"ile\, a. [F. st['e]rile, L. sterilis, akin to Gr. stereo`s stiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that has not calved, Goth. stair[=o], fem., barren. See Stare to gaze.]
- 1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Biol.) (a) Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only stamens. (b) Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile fluid. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Fig.: Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a sterile production or author. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'sterile'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abortive,
- acarpous,
- antiseptic,
- arid,
- aseptic,
- bare,
- barren,
- blah,
- blank,
- bloodless,
- boiled,
- bootless,
- celibate,
- characterless,
- childless,
- cold,
- colorless,
- counterproductive,
- dead,
- decontaminated,
- desert,
- desolate,
- disinfected,
- dismal,
- draggy,
- drained,
- drearisome,
- dreary,
- dried-up,
- dry,
- dryasdust,
- dull,
- dusty,
- effete,
- elephantine,
- empty,
- etiolated,
- exhausted,
- fade,
- fallow,
- fatuitous,
- fatuous,
- feckless,
- flat,
- fruitless,
- futile,
- gainless,
- gaunt,
- gelded,
- heavy,
- ho-hum,
- hollow,
- hygienic,
- impotent,
- inadequate,
- inane,
- ineffective,
- ineffectual,
- inefficacious,
- inexcitable,
- infecund,
- infertile,
- inoperative,
- insipid,
- invalid,
- issueless,
- jejune,
- leached,
- leaden,
- lifeless,
- low-spirited,
- menopausal,
- noncreative,
- nonfertile,
- nonproducing,
- nonproductive,
- nonprolific,
- nonremunerative,
- nugacious,
- nugatory,
- of no force,
- otiose,
- pale,
- pallid,
- pasteurized,
- pedestrian,
- plodding,
- pointless,
- poky,
- ponderous,
- profitless,
- prophylactic,
- pure,
- rewardless,
- sanitary,
- sine prole,
- slow,
- solemn,
- spiritless,
- stale,
- sterilized,
- stiff,
- stodgy,
- stuffy,
- sucked dry,
- superficial,
- tasteless,
- tedious,
- teemless,
- unavailing,
- uncontaminated,
- uncreative,
- uncultivated,
- unfertile,
- unfruitful,
- uninfected,
- uninspired,
- uninventive,
- unlively,
- unplowed,
- unpolluted,
- unproductive,
- unprofitable,
- unprolific,
- unremunerative,
- unrewarding,
- unsown,
- untilled,
- useless,
- vain,
- vapid,
- virgin,
- waste,
- wasted,
- without issue,
- wooden,
- worn-out