germinal

[ jur-muh-nl ]

See synonyms for germinal on Thesaurus.com

adjective

being in the earliest stage of development: germinal ideas.
of or relating to a germ or germs.

of the nature of a germ or germ cell.

Origin of germinal

First recorded in 1800–10; from French or directly from Latin germin- (stem of germen “sprout, bud”; see origin at germ) + -al¹

Other words from germinal

ger·mi·nal·ly, adverb
non·ger·mi·nal, adjective
sub·ger·mi·nal, adjective
sub·ger·mi·nal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby germinal

Other definitions for Germinal (2 of 2)

Germinal

[ jur-muh-nl; French zher-mee-nal ]

noun

(in the French Revolutionary calendar) the seventh month of the year, extending from March 21 to April 19.
(italics) a novel (1884) by Émile Zola.

Origin of Germinal

From French; see origin at germinal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use germinal in a sentence

My worry is that psychedelics may intensify attitudes that were already present in some germinal form.
Michael Pollan on the Psychedelic Renaissance and Netflix's New 'How to Change Your Mind' Documentary | Tara Law | July 12, 2022 | Time
But the most fascinating sections are the germinal passages upon which Agee would build and elaborate in the final version.
Revisiting James Agee: Discovering the Original ‘Let Us Now Praise Famous Men’ | Malcolm Jones | June 7, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
germinal by Émile Zola My favorite reportorial 19th-century novel.
Pulitzer Winner Jennifer Egan’s PEN Festival Book Bag | Jennifer Egan | April 23, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
From the germinal impression of a description, all the details grow; to this primary impression they all contribute.
English: Composition and Literature | W. F. (William Franklin) Webster
In a one-celled individual, there is no distinction between germinal and bodily functions.
Taboo and Genetics | Melvin Moses Knight, Iva Lowther Peters, and Phyllis Mary Blanchard

In the youngest egg which I had, the germinal disc was already divided into four segments by two furrows at right angles.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour
The furrows in this case reached quite to the edge of the germinal disc.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour
Where it cuts the surface it forms the zone of lighter colour immediately surrounding the germinal disc.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 | Francis Maitland Balfour

British Dictionary definitions for germinal (1 of 2)

germinal

/ (ˈdʒɜːmɪnəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or like germs or a germ cell
of, or in the earliest stage of development; embryonic

Origin of germinal

C19: from New Latin germinālis, from Latin germen bud; see germ

Derived forms of germinal

germinally, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for Germinal (2 of 2)

Germinal

/ French (ʒɛrminal) /

noun

the month of buds: the seventh month of the French revolutionary calendar, from March 22 to April 20

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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