cross-pollination

US: (krôs′pol′ə nā′shən, kros′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cross-pol•li•na•tion  (krôs′pol′ə nā′shən, kros′-), n. 

1. Botany the transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower of a plant having a different genetic constitution. Cf. self-pollination.
2. a sharing or interchange of knowledge, ideas, etc., as for mutual enrichment;
   cross-fertilization.

• 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cross-pollination noun

1. the transfer of pollen from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another flower by the action of wind, insects, etc
   Compare self-pollination