germinal

adjective

ger·​mi·​nal ˈjər-mə-nᵊl How to pronounce germinal (audio)
ˈjerm-nəl
1
a
: being in the earliest stage of development
2
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a germ cell or early embryo
germinally adverb

Examples of germinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some believe — and were trained to think — the disease begins in the germinal center, a structure in the lymph nodes where immune cells interact with antigens in a way that creates a powerful pathogen-fighting response (think vaccines and infections). Isabella Cueto, STAT, 18 June 2022 But germinal centers did not form in the thoracic lymph nodes and spleens of the autopsied COVID-19 patients, the researchers reported. Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, 25 Aug. 2020 Vinuesa and her team were able to figure out one key alternate pathway, one not involving the lymph node germinal center, with the help of a few Kikas. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 18 June 2022 Researchers showed last year that the elite school inside of lymph nodes where the B cells train, called the germinal center, remains active for at least 15 weeks after the second dose of a covid vaccine. Arkansas Online, 22 Feb. 2022 Researchers showed last year that the elite school inside of lymph nodes where the B cells train, called the germinal center, remains active for at least 15 weeks after the second dose of a Covid vaccine. New York Times, 21 Feb. 2022 But first those memory cells get trained in immune system boot camps called germinal centers, learning to do more than just make copies of their original antibodies. Carla K. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 3 Jan. 2022 But offering up that refresher too often or too soon could be pointless, even slightly counterproductive, if active germinal centers are still doing their thing. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2021 According to scientists who conducted the study, this is a very positive sign since germinal centers normally peak one or two weeks after vaccination and then begin to decline, the New York Times reported. Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 28 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'germinal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of germinal was in 1804

Dictionary Entries Near germinal

Cite this Entry

“Germinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

germinal

adjective
ger·​mi·​nal ˈjərm-nəl, -ən-ᵊl How to pronounce germinal (audio)
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a germ cell or early embryo
germinally adverb

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