germinate

[jur-muh-neyt]

verb (used without object)

germinated, germinating 

1. to begin to grow or develop.

2. Botany.

   1. to develop into a plant or individual, as a seed, spore, or bulb.

   2. to put forth shoots; sprout; pullulate.

3. to come into existence; begin.

verb (used with object)

germinated, germinating 

1. to cause to develop; produce.

2. to cause to come into existence; create.

germinate

/ ˈdʒɜːmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to cause (seeds or spores) to sprout or (of seeds or spores) to sprout or form new tissue following increased metabolism

2. to grow or cause to grow; develop

3. to come or bring into existence; originate

   the idea germinated with me

Other Word Forms

• germinable adjective
• germination noun
• germinator noun
• nongerminating adjective
• nongermination noun
• regerminate verb
• regermination noun
• ungerminated adjective
• ungerminating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of germinate¹

1600–10; < Latin germinātus (past participle of germināre to sprout, bud), equivalent to germin- ( germinal ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of germinate¹

C17: from Latin germināre to sprout; see _germ

Example Sentences

And getting certification is a rigorous, costly process, as seeds need to be tested in a laboratory for their purity and things like how well they germinate.

From BBC

The problem is, when you remove 6 inches of soil from a yard, you’re likely removing some or all of the top soil, where plants germinate and get the nutrients they need to grow.

From Los Angeles Times

Boxes full of fresh onions in the courtyard have now germinated.

From BBC

“I’m very interested in committing myself to helping raw milk emerge as a constructive, high standards, healthy, wonderful, germinating, delicious food.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Biddulph said now they are "recognised as malting ovens, used to heat partially germinated grain to produce malt".

From BBC

Related Words

• sprout