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stérile
/ste.ʁil/
sterile, barren, infertile
Le sol est stérile ici.
The soil is barren here.
formal
Unable to produce offspring or reproduce; infertile.
Le couple a découvert qu'ils étaient stériles.
The couple discovered they were infertile.
Often used in medical contexts.
formal
Lacking in nutrients or unable to support growth; barren.
Cette terre est stérile et ne pousse rien.
This land is barren and nothing grows here.
Used to describe soil, land, or environments.
Medicine
technical
Free from living microorganisms; sterile.
Les instruments chirurgicaux doivent être stériles.
Surgical instruments must be sterile.
Common in medical and scientific contexts.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Medical vs. Agricultural Use
Be mindful of the context when using 'stérile'. In medicine, it means free from germs, while in agriculture, it refers to unproductive land.
Gold Rule
Avoid Confusion
Do not confuse 'stérile' with 'stérilisé', which means 'sterilized' or 'disinfected'.
Word Origin
From Latin 'sterilis', meaning 'unproductive' or 'barren'.
Usage Notes
In medical contexts, 'stérile' refers to the absence of living microorganisms. In agricultural contexts, it describes land that cannot support growth.
Word Breakdown
ster-
barren, infertile
root-ile
suffix indicating a state or condition
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais