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View synonyms for germinate

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

“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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Derived Forms

  • ˈgerminable, adjective
  • ˌgermiˈnation, noun
  • ˈgermiˌnator, noun
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Other Words From

  • ger·mi·na·ble [jur, -m, uh, -n, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
  • germi·nation noun
  • germi·nator noun
  • non·germi·nating adjective
  • nonger·mi·nation noun
  • re·germi·nate verb regerminated regerminating
  • reger·mi·nation noun
  • un·germi·nated adjective
  • un·germi·nating adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of germinate1

C17: from Latin germināre to sprout; see germ
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Example Sentences

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

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

From BBC

When I was here in March covering Mr Gething’s victory, the seeds of his political demise were germinating before our eyes.

From BBC

Yet even though they’ve held a raft of public hearings and workshops on potential new laws and regulations, another plan is germinating behind closed doors.

“Robot Dreams” was her first book, one that took its time to germinate.

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germinantgerminative