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 developintransitive 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