cross-pollinate
verb
cross-pol·li·nate
ˈkrȯs-ˈpä-lə-ˌnāt
cross-pollinated; cross-pollinating; cross-pollinates
: to subject to cross-pollination
Researchers …cross-pollinated Sub1 rice with a high-yielding, flavorful variety called Swarna, which is popular in India and Bangladesh.—Tim Folger
In renewing their story option for The Phantom of the Opera on September 17, 1941, Universal Pictures intended to cross-pollinate their two most lucrative genres, horror movies and Deanna Durbin musicals.—Scott MacQueen
: to undergo cross-fertilization
… the real reason is that the humidity in the air causes it to cross-pollinate and consequently grow seeds.—The New Yorker
… a company can determine whether moving its programmers closer to its designers actually improves teamwork, or whether Friday happy hours are a good way to get employees from different departments to cross-pollinate.—Olga Khazan
Cite this Entry
“Cross-pollinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-pollinate. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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