ster|ile

ster|ile «STEHR uhl», adjective.

1. free from living germs or microorganisms: »

The nurse kept the surgeon's instruments sterile.

2. not producing seed, offspring, or crops; not fertile; barren; unproductive: »

a sterile cow. Desert soil is usually sterile.

SYNONYM(S): infertile.

3. a) not bearing fruit or spores: »

a sterile plant.

b) producing only stamens, or producing neither stamens nor pistils: »

a sterile flower.

4. Figurative. a) not producing results: »

sterile hopes.

b) mentally or spiritually barren: »

verbal logic drawing sterile conclusions from untested authority (John Morley).

╂[< Latin sterilis]

–ster´ile|ly, adverb.