v.
Pronunciation: ' j ə r-m ə - ˌ n ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -nat · ed ; -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 develop
intransitive 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 \ ˌ j ə r-m ə - ' n ā -sh ə n \ noun
– ger · mi · na · tive \ ' j ə r-m ə - ˌ n ā -tiv, -m ə -n ə - \ adjective