ster·ile 
/ˈsterəl, Brit ˈstɛˌrajəl/ adjective
/ˈsterəl, Brit ˈstɛˌrajəl/ adjective [more sterile; most sterile] 1 : not able to produce crops or plants
▪ sterile soil/fields 2 a : not able to produce children, young animals, etc.
▪ Mules are sterile. ▪ sterile offspring
b : not able to grow or develop
▪ sterile eggs 3 : clean and free of bacteria and germs
▪ a sterile dressing for a wound ▪ sterile needles 4 : not producing or containing new ideas, useful results, etc.
▪ a sterile debate/subject 5 : very plain and not interesting or attractive
▪ a sterile building/room
▪ sterile soil/fields
▪ Mules are sterile. ▪ sterile offspring
b : not able to grow or develop
▪ sterile eggs
▪ a sterile dressing for a wound ▪ sterile needles
▪ a sterile debate/subject
▪ a sterile building/room
— ste·ril·i·ty /stəˈrɪləti/ noun [noncount]
▪ a disease that causes sterility ▪ emotional/creative sterility
/stəˈrɪləti/ noun [noncount] ▪ a disease that causes sterility ▪ emotional/creative sterility
