sterility
/stəˈrɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /stəˈrɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /stə̇ˈrilətē steˈ-, -lətē, -i/ (ame, mw)
sterility — 名詞
1. the physical state of a person, animal, or plant in which they are permanently u
不育；不妊
無法生育後代的狀態
the physical state of a person, animal, or plant in which they are permanently unable to have babies, young, seeds, or fruit.
Doctors told Bilal and Yasmin that tests would find the cause of their sterility.
醫生告訴 Bilal 和 Yasmin，檢查會找出他們不育的原因。
collocation: cause of sterility
New medical treatments have helped many couples overcome sterility and start a family.
新的醫療技術幫助許多夫妻克服不育問題，成功建立了家庭。
collocation: overcome sterility
Veterinarians studied the mare's sterility to understand why she never gave birth to foals.
獸醫研究了那匹母馬的不孕問題，想了解牠為何從未生下小馬。
The ancient olive tree's sterility puzzled the farmers, as it stopped producing olives entirely.
那棵古老的橄欖樹無法結果，讓農夫們百思不解。
- infertility
more common in everyday medical talk; can be temporary or permanent
- barrenness
old-fashioned and mainly used for land or plants, not people
- fertility
the ability to produce offspring
用法筆記
Often used in medical and veterinary contexts. 'Sterility' typically implies a permanent condition, whereas 'infertility' may suggest a temporary or treatable problem.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which there is no new thinking, imagination, or creative energy,
貧乏；枯竭
缺乏創意或新想法的狀態
a situation in which there is no new thinking, imagination, or creative energy, so that nothing fresh or worthwhile comes from a person's work or from an intellectual activity.
The director's recent films were criticised for their sterility and lack of original ideas.
那位導演近期的電影被批評為內容貧乏，完全缺乏原創想法。
collocation: sterility of films / creative work
After twelve years in the office, Sofia felt a growing sterility in her design work.
在辦公室工作了十二年後，Sofia 覺得自己的設計工作逐漸枯竭。
Critics noted the sterility of the political debate, which repeated old arguments without new thinking.
評論家指出那場政治辯論內容貧乏，只重複舊論點，沒有任何新思維。
The artist left the city to escape the sterility of the commercial art scene.
那位藝術家離開城市，逃離商業藝術圈的創意枯竭。
- barrenness
a more literary and dramatic synonym for lack of creative output
- emptiness
less formal; focuses on the absence of meaning rather than new ideas
- creativity
the ability to produce fresh ideas
- originality
the quality of being new and different
用法筆記
Used in formal or critical writing about art, literature, intellectual work, or public discussion. It describes a type of emptiness or exhaustion, not physical tiredness.
常見錯誤
3. the state of a surface, object, or space being so thoroughly cleaned that no bac
無菌
完全沒有細菌的狀態
the state of a surface, object, or space being so thoroughly cleaned that no bacteria or other tiny organisms that cause illness remain on it.
Surgical instruments must be kept in a state of complete sterility before every operation.
手術器械在每次操作前都必須保持完全無菌的狀態。
collocation: complete sterility
The lab technician checked the sterility of the glass containers before adding the chemical solution.
實驗室技術員在加入化學溶液之前，檢查了玻璃容器的無菌狀態。
Hospitals use high-temperature steam machines to ensure sterility in all operating rooms.
醫院使用高溫蒸汽機來確保所有手術室的無菌狀態。
The nurse wrapped the tools in a sealed bag to protect their sterility before surgery.
護理師將工具放入密封袋中，手術前保持無菌狀態。
- asepsis
the technical medical term for being free from harmful microorganisms
- cleanliness
more general; a clean surface is not necessarily sterile
- contamination
the presence of unwanted or harmful substances or germs
用法筆記
Common in medical, laboratory, and food-production contexts. 'Sterility' describes the state itself, while 'sterilisation' refers to the process of achieving it. Do not confuse with general 'cleanliness' — a clean surface can still carry germs.