(of humans or animals 人或动物 not able to produce children or young animals 不能生育的；不育的 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- remain
- …
completely clean and free from bacteria 无菌的；消过毒的 sterile bandages 消毒绷带 Dilute the stock solution to 2.5% with sterile water. 用无菌水将原液稀释至2.5%。
Extra ExamplesThe experiment was performed under sterile conditions. 该实验是在无菌条件下完成的。 This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile. 这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上，保持奶嘴洁净。 All the equipment used is new and sterile. 所有使用的设备都是新的并消过毒的。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- remain
- make something
- …
- completely
- under sterile conditions
(of a discussion, an argument, etc. 讨论、争论等 not producing any useful result 无结果的；没有实际价值的 We need to focus on solving the problem rather than continuing the sterile debate on how it came about. 我们需要集中精力解决这个问题，而不是继续就它是如何产生的进行毫无结果的辩论。
Extra Examplesthe increasingly sterile debate on constitutional reform 越来越乏味的宪法改革争论 Let us move on from sterile argument about things like the format of meetings towards real cooperation. 让我们从关于会议形式等问题的毫无结果的争论转向真正的合作。
not having individual personality, imagination or new ideas 刻板的；无个性的；缺乏新意的 The room felt cold and sterile. 那房间让人觉得阴冷而没有生气。 He felt creatively and emotionally sterile. 他感觉自己既缺乏创意又没有充沛的感情。
Extra ExamplesTheir relationship had become sterile over the years. 随着岁月的流逝，他们的关系也变得了无生气。 At forty-seven he was creatively and emotionally sterile. 47岁时，他的创造力和情感都很贫乏。 I found I was writing a completely sterile account of their life. 我发现我正在写一篇关于他们生活的毫无新意的报道。 I like things to look old and comfortable, not cold and sterile. 我喜欢看起来又旧又舒服的东西，而不是又冷又无菌的。 To me, there is something very sterile about these hi-tech guitars. 对我来说，这些高科技吉他有一些非常无菌的东西。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- very
- increasingly
- largely
- …
(of land 土地 not good enough to produce crops 贫瘠的
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin sterilis; related to Greek steira ‘barren cow’. Sense (2) dates from the late 19th cent.