cross-pollinate

/ˌkrɒs ˈpɒləneɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkrɔːs ˈpɑːləneɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrȯs-ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt/ (ame, mw)

cross-pollinate — verb

  • cross-pollinatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • cross-pollinateshe / she / it
  • cross-pollinatedpast simple
  • cross-pollinating-ing form

1. to carry pollen from one flower or plant to a different one of the same kind, so

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to carry pollen from one flower or plant to a different one of the same kind, so seeds or new plants can form

例句

Bees cross-pollinated the apple trees in Putri's family orchard last spring.

subject + object: insects cross-pollinate plants

Christopher used a small brush to cross-pollinate the pumpkin flowers by hand.

pattern: cross-pollinate something by hand

同義詞
  • pollinate

    broader; covers any pollen transfer, including within the same flower or plant

  • cross-fertilize

    near-synonym; emphasises the successful seed-making result rather than only the pollen transfer

  • hybridize

    narrower technical term; usually refers to deliberately crossing two different varieties or species to create a new one

反義詞
  • self-pollinate

    opposite case: pollen stays on the same flower or plant rather than moving between two

文法句型

cross-pollinate something

cross-pollinate something with something

two plants cross-pollinate

用法筆記

Often used both transitively (people or insects do the action) and intransitively (the plants themselves are the subject: 'the two varieties cross-pollinated'). Frequently passive, with 'by' naming bees, wind, hummingbirds, or human helpers.

常見錯誤

❌Bees cross-pollen the apple trees.
✅Bees cross-pollinate the apple trees.
💡'pollen' is a noun; the verb is 'cross-pollinate'.
❌The two flowers cross-pollinated by the wind.
✅The two flowers were cross-pollinated by the wind.
💡when 'by' names the agent, use the passive form 'be cross-pollinated'.