germinate

[ jur-muh-neyt ]

/ ˈdʒɜr məˌneɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR germinate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ger·mi·nat·ed, ger·mi·nat·ing.

to begin to grow or develop.

Botany.

to develop into a plant or individual, as a seed, spore, or bulb.
to put forth shoots; sprout; pullulate.

to come into existence; begin.

verb (used with object), ger·mi·nat·ed, ger·mi·nat·ing.

to cause to develop; produce.

to cause to come into existence; create.

Nearby words

Origin of germinate

1600–10; < Latin germinātus (past participle of germināre to sprout, bud), equivalent to germin- (see germinal) + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

ger·mi·na·ble

[jur-muh-nuh-buh l] /ˈdʒɜr mə nə bəl/, adjectiveger·mi·na·tion, nounger·mi·na·tor, nounnon·ger·mi·nat·ing, adjective

non·ger·mi·na·tion, nounre·ger·mi·nate, verb, re·ger·mi·nat·ed, re·ger·mi·nat·ing.re·ger·mi·na·tion, nounun·ger·mi·nat·ed, adjectiveun·ger·mi·nat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for germinate

But without a reasonable expectation that security will materialize, better governance will not germinate.
It's All or Nothing in Afghanistan|Vanda Felbab-Brown|October 11, 2009|DAILY BEAST
In order to determine whether the seed will germinate well or not, let the planter begin to test them early in the spring.
The Peanut Plant|B. W. Jones
They are very hardy, germinate readily in the seed-bed, are easy to transplant and need but little care.
A Woman's Hardy Garden|Helena Rutherfurd Ely
I discovered comfort in the words of St. Paul, and prayed that out of spiritual death the seed of a new life might germinate.
Paradise Garden|George Gibbs

But in good time it begins to germinate, and grows to be a plant.
The Quest|Frederik van Eeden
Many seeds fall on the snow in winter to be let down on the damp ground ready to germinate during the early spring.
American Forest Trees|Henry H. Gibson

British Dictionary definitions for germinate

germinate

/ (ˈdʒɜːmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

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

to grow or cause to grow; develop

to come or bring into existence; originatethe idea germinated with me

Derived Formsgerminable or germinative, adjectivegermination, noungerminator, noun

Word Origin for germinate

C17: from Latin germināre to sprout; see germ

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

Word Origin and History for germinate

germinate

c.1600, probably a back-formation from germination. Earlier germynen (mid-15c.) was from Latin germinare. Figurative use from 1640s. Related: Germinated; germinating.

germinate

verb (used without object), ger·mi·nat·ed, ger·mi·nat·ing.

verb (used with object), ger·mi·nat·ed, ger·mi·nat·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of germinate

Examples from the Web for germinate

germinate

verb

Word Origin for germinate

germinate