fertilizer

fer-ti-liz-er · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A natural or chemical substance added to soil to promote plant growth by providing essential nutrients.

  2. 2.

    Any substance or factor that promotes growth or development.

Forms

plural: fertilizers

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    chemical fertilizer — synthetically produced plant nutrients
  • •
    organic fertilizer — fertilizer derived from natural sources
  • •
    nitrogen fertilizer — fertilizer rich in nitrogen for plant growth
  • •
    apply fertilizer — to spread fertilizer on soil or plants

Related words

See also: compost, fertile, manure
Synonyms: compost, manure, plant food

Etymology

From fertilize + -er (agent suffix). Fertilize comes from Latin fertilis ("fruitful"), from ferre ("to bear"). The word entered common use in the 19th century with the development of agricultural science.