germinate

verb

ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

1
: to come into being : evolve
before Western civilization began to germinateA. L. Kroeber
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
waiting for the seeds to germinate
germination noun
germinative adjective

Examples of germinate in a Sentence

methods used by gardeners to germinate seeds
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Others, such as Sierra Nevada’s sugar pine, demand 16 weeks. Between February and May, the seeds wake up from their slumber, germinate and sprout. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2024 Zoom in: Native wildflowers like bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes need colder soil temperatures to germinate. Megan Stringer, Axios, 23 Oct. 2024 For one thing, dandelion seeds have a better chance of germinating among thin turf. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2024 The seeds germinate fast, and the plants aren't very demanding. Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for germinate 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of germinate was in 1610

Dictionary Entries Near germinate

Cite this Entry

“Germinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germinate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

germinate

verb
ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating
1
: to cause to sprout or develop
2
: to begin to grow : sprout
3
: to come into being : evolve
germination noun

Medical Definition

germinate

verb
ger·​mi·​nate ˈjər-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce germinate (audio)
germinated; germinating

transitive verb

: to cause to sprout or develop

intransitive verb

: to begin to grow : sprout
germination noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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