cross-pollination

/ˌkrɒs pɒləˈneɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkrɔːs pɑːləˈneɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkrȯs-ˌpä-lə-ˈnā-shən/ (ame, mw)

cross-pollination — noun

1. the sharing and mixing of ideas, styles, or methods between people from differen

1.名詞B2
釋義

the sharing and mixing of ideas, styles, or methods between people from different areas of work, culture, or knowledge, often leading to fresh ways of thinking or creating

例句

The institute encouraged cross-pollination between its biology and computing teams.

cross-pollination between [disciplines]

Amara's cooking shows cross-pollination of West African and Brazilian flavours.

cross-pollination of [cultural traditions]

同義詞
  • cross-fertilization

    near-identical in figurative use; slightly more formal and often implies deliberate institutional mixing

  • interchange

    broader and less vivid — covers any back-and-forth, not necessarily leading to new outcomes

  • fusion

    stronger blending where original elements merge into something hard to separate

  • synthesis

    suggests a more systematic combining into a coherent whole

反義詞
  • isolation

    complete separation with no exchange of ideas

  • siloing

    deliberate separation of departments or fields, blocking idea-sharing

文法句型

cross-pollination between + plural noun

cross-pollination of + plural noun

用法筆記

Common in discussions of creativity, innovation, and interdisciplinary work. The subject is typically abstract — ideas, cultures, disciplines, or artistic styles — rather than physical objects.

常見錯誤

❌There was good cross-pollination at the meeting.
✅There was a productive cross-pollination of ideas at the meeting.
💡the word almost always needs 'of ideas', 'between fields', or a similar phrase to clarify what is being exchanged.

2. when pollen moves from one plant's flower to the flower of a different plant, ca

2.名詞B2
釋義

when pollen moves from one plant's flower to the flower of a different plant, carried by bees, wind, or other natural forces — this is how many plants form seeds and fruit

例句

Cross-pollination occurred when bees from the neighbour's orchard visited Ms. Chen's apple trees.

cross-pollination by insect activity

Wind-driven cross-pollination helped the maize plants in Farmer Odhiambo's field produce full ears.

cross-pollination by wind

同義詞
  • allogamy

    a technical botanical term for the same process; rarely used outside science

  • cross-fertilization

    broader term that can also refer to fertilisation in animals or figurative mixing of ideas

反義詞
  • self-pollination

    pollen from a flower fertilises the same flower or another flower on the same plant

文法句型

cross-pollination between + plural noun

cross-pollination by + agent (wind, insects, bees)

用法筆記

Used in botany, agriculture, and gardening. Distinguish from self-pollination, where a flower fertilises itself without needing another plant.

常見錯誤

❌The flower achieved cross-pollination on its own.
✅The flower was cross-pollinated by bees from another plant.
💡cross-pollination always involves two different plants, never a single flower acting alone.