Main Entry: ver·nal·i·za·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌvər-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən\

Function: noun

Date: 1933

: the act or process of hastening the flowering and fruiting of plants by treating seeds, bulbs, or seedlings so as to induce a shortening of the vegetative period

— ver·nal·ize \ˈvər-nə-ˌlīz\ transitive verb