germinate

verb

ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt 

germinated; germinating

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

waiting for the seeds to germinate

germination

ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

germinative

ˈjər-mə-ˌnā-tiv  -mə-nə- 

adjective

Examples of germinate in a Sentence

methods used by gardeners to germinate seeds

Recent Examples on the Web

Temperature and Humidity These heat-loving beans are sensitive to cold, and seeds germinate poorly when planted in cold soil. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2024

Seeds can germinate over a long period, beyond spring and well into the summer. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2024

Taylor: Where did the idea for the book first germinate? —Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

Check sites periodically to remove re-sprouts and recently germinated seedlings and rosettes. —Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 30 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

germinate

verb

ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt 

germinated; germinating

1

: to cause to sprout or develop

2

: to begin to grow : sprout

3

: to come into being : evolve

germination

ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

germinate

verb

ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt 

germinated; germinating

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

: to begin to grow : sprout

germination

ˌjər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun