Main Entry:

ger·mi·nate

Pronunciation:

\ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

ger·mi·nat·ed; ger·mi·nat·ing

Etymology:

Latin germinatus, past participle of germinare to sprout, from germin-, germen bud, germ

Date:

1610

transitive verb : to cause to sprout or develop intransitive verb 1 : to come into being : evolve <before Western civilization began to germinate — A. L. Kroeber> 2 : to begin to grow : sprout

— ger·mi·na·tion \ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən\ noun

— ger·mi·na·tive \ˈjər-mə-ˌnā-tiv, -mə-nə-\ adjective