pollinate

verb

pol·​li·​nate ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating

transitive verb

1
: to carry out the pollination of
2
: to mark or smudge with pollen

Examples of pollinate in a Sentence

The plants are pollinated by bees.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although not found in Wisconsin, bats that eat nectar also help pollinate crops. Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024 Ensure some pollinator-attracting flowers are planted nearby to pollinate the bean flowers. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2024 How Bats Benefit Society Aside from eating insects that would otherwise pulverize food and vegetables, bats also pollinate plants yielding 300 fruit species of fruit and cocoa. Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024 These types of seeds are naturally pollinated and have been passed down from one generation to the next, traced back for at least 50 years. Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pollinate 

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pollinate was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near pollinate

Cite this Entry

“Pollinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pollinate. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pollinate

verb
pol·​li·​nate ˈpäl-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce pollinate (audio)
pollinated; pollinating
: to place pollen on the stigma of

More from Merriam-Webster on pollinate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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