estéril
sterile, barren
adjective ehs-TEH-reel Rare
Origin: Latin sterilis (barren)
Also means
futile, fruitless
Usage Note
Estéril applies both to biological infertility (tierra estéril, barren land; pareja estéril, infertile couple) and to figurative futility (un debate estéril, a fruitless debate). It is also used in medical contexts for 'sterile' (free of germs), where English distinguishes 'sterile' from 'barren' but Spanish uses the same word. The plural is estériles, with the accent maintained.
Examples
"El desierto es una tierra estéril y seca."
Natural Translation
The desert is barren and dry land.
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