sterile

adjective STEH-ree-leh Rare

Origin: From Latin sterilis 'barren'.

Also means

barren, infertile

Usage Note

Sterile means both 'germ-free' (ambiente sterile = 'sterile environment') and 'infertile' (terreno sterile = 'barren soil'; coppia sterile = 'infertile couple'). Figuratively it means 'fruitless': una discussione sterile ('a sterile, unproductive discussion'). The plural is sterili for both genders. A false friend alert: English 'sterile' maps exactly here with no shift in meaning.

Examples

"Il bisturi deve essere assolutamente sterile prima dell'operazione."

Natural Translation

The scalpel must be absolutely sterile before the operation.

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