Main Entry: ger·mi·nal

Pronunciation: \ˈjərm-nəl, ˈjer-mə-n^əl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: French, from Latin germin-, germen — more at germ

Date: 1808

1 a : being in the earliest stage of development b : creative, productive
2 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a germ cell or early embryo

— ger·mi·nal·ly adverb