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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Fertile \Fer"tile\ (? or ?; 277), a. [L. fertilis, fr. ferre to
bear, produce: cf. F. fertile. See {Bear} to support.]
1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able
to produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive; rich;
inventive; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or
imagination.
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Though he in a fertile climate dwell. --Shak.
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2. (Bot.)
(a) Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile
flowers.
(b) Containing pollen; -- said of anthers.
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3. produced in abundance; plenteous; ample.
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Henceforth, my early care . . .
Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease
Of thy full branches. --Milton.

Syn: {Fertile}, {Fruitful}.

Usage: Fertile implies the inherent power of production;
fruitful, the act. The prairies of the West are
fertile by nature, and are turned by cultivation into
fruitful fields. The same distinction prevails when
these words are used figuratively. A man of fertile
genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one
whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a
readiness of application which enable him to think and
act effectively.
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