seminal

[ sem-uh-nl ]
See synonyms for seminal on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. pertaining to, containing, or consisting of semen.

  2. Botany. of or relating to seed.

  1. having possibilities of future development.

  2. highly original and influencing the development of future events: a seminal artist; seminal ideas.

Origin of seminal

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin sēminālis, equivalent to sēmin- (stem of sēmen) seed, semen + -ālis-al1

Other words for seminal

Other words from seminal

  • sem·i·nal·i·ty, noun
  • sem·i·nal·ly, adverb
  • in·ter·sem·i·nal, adjective
  • pre·sem·i·nal, adjective

Words Nearby seminal

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How to use seminal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for seminal

seminal

/ (ˈsɛmɪnəl) /


adjective
  1. potentially capable of development

  2. highly original, influential, and important

  1. rudimentary or unformed

  2. of or relating to semen: seminal fluid

  3. biology of or relating to seed

Origin of seminal

1
C14: from Late Latin sēminālis belonging to seed, from Latin sēmen seed

Derived forms of seminal

  • seminality, noun
  • seminally, adverb

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