Adjective: sterile ste-rul [N. Amer], 'ste,rI(-u)l [Brit]
- Free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms
"a sterile operating area";
- aseptic
- Incapable of reproducing
"The hybrid plants were sterile";
- unfertile, infertile
- Deficient in originality or creativity; lacking powers of invention
"a sterile ideology lacking in originality";
- unimaginative, uninspired, uninventive
See also: antiseptic, barren [archaic], fecundity, fertility, impotent, sterilised [Brit], sterilized, uncreative, unfertilised [Brit], unfertilized, unfruitful, unimpregnated, unproductive
Encyclopedia: Sterile