germination
germination
Sprouting of a seed, spore, or other reproductive body, usually after a period of dormancy. Absorption of water, passage of time, chilling, warming, oxygen availability, and light exposure may all operate in initiating the germination process. The carefully controlled mass germination of cereal seeds supplies enzymes for the making of alcoholic beverages and for other industries; spores of the commercially cultivated mushroom Agaricus brunescens are also mass germinated.
This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on germination, visit Britannica.com.
Learn More About
Seen & Heard 
What made you look up germination? Please tell us what you were reading, watching or discussing that led you here.
