ger·mi·nate
ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt
germinated; germinating
: to cause to sprout or develop
1
: to come into being : evolve
… before Western civilization began to germinate …—A. L. Kroeber
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
waiting for the seeds to germinate
ger·mi·na·tion
plural -s
1
: the beginning, process, or result of germinating:
a
: the initial development of a spore involving either production of a germ tube or internal breakup
the first stage in germination of a spore is the absorption of water—George Smith
b
: the resumption of growth by the embryo in a seed after planting that involves the development of a young plant from the embryo after a period of dormancy : sprouting
germination starts when the seed coat is broken—F. S. Baker
c
: the development of a bud
d
: the production of a pollen tube by a pollen grain
2
: the beginning of growth or development : evolution
the germination of newer and more tentative ideas—J. T. Edsall
Cite this Entry
“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.
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