/ˈsteraɪl;ˈsterəl/adj1 not able to produce young animals or babies 不育的
2 completely clean and free from bacteria 消过毒的;无菌的: All equipment used during a medical operation must be sterile. 手术中所用的全部器材必须彻底消毒。
3 not producing any useful result 无结果的:
a sterile discussion/argument 毫无结果的讨论/争论 ➔sterility /stəˈrɪləti/ noun [U]