Basic Details
Word: Fertilizer
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility and promote plant growth.
Synonyms: Manure, compost, nutrient, soil conditioner
Antonyms: Depleter, poison, toxin
Idioms and Phrases
- To fertilize the soil: Literally means to add nutrients to soil to help plants grow. Figuratively, it can mean to provide support or resources to encourage growth or development. Example: "The government's new policy helped fertilize the economy."
- Fertile ground: A situation or place that is likely to produce good results. Example: "This region offers fertile ground for technological innovation."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Farmers use fertilizer to improve the quality of the soil and increase crop yields.
Example 2: Organic fertilizer is often preferred because it enriches the soil naturally.
Example 3: Overusing chemical fertilizers can harm the environment by contaminating water sources.
Fun Fact
The first fertilizers were natural materials like animal manure and compost, but today there are many synthetic fertilizers designed to supply specific nutrients to plants efficiently.
Famous Quote
"Fertilizers are the food of plants, just as food is the fuel of the body." Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What is a fertilizer?
a) A type of insect
b) A substance that increases soil fertility
c) A tool used in farming
d) A kind of plant
Answer: b) A substance that increases soil fertility
2. Which of these is a synonym for "fertilizer"?
a) Poison
b) Manure
c) Water
d) Rock
Answer: b) Manure
3. What can happen if fertilizer is overused?
a) Plants grow better
b) Soil becomes infertile
c) Environmental pollution
d) Nothing happens
Answer: c) Environmental pollution
4. Which sentence uses "fertilizer" correctly?
a) The farmer applied fertilizer to the field before planting.
b) The fertilizer was walking in the garden.
c) She bought a fertilizer book.
d) Fertilizer cooked the vegetables.
Answer: a) The farmer applied fertilizer to the field before planting.
5. What does the phrase "fertile ground" mean?
a) A place with rich soil
b) A situation likely to produce good results
c) A dry desert
d) A mountain area
Answer: b) A situation likely to produce good results
