-məˌnāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin germinatus, past participle of germinare to sprout, put forth, from germin-, germen bud, sprout, germ — more at germ
transitive verb
1. : to cause to sprout or grow
germinate a broad bean on damp flannel — John Percival
2. : to cause to originate or develop
until recently the university presses germinated no ideas at all — M.S.Watson
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to shoot forth like a plant : effloresce
the stone on which the native alum … germinates is black and shining — William Brownrigg
2. : to begin to grow : sprout — used especially of a spore or seed
the seed … germinates on access of water, air, and warmth — W.F.Ganong
3. : to come into being : evolve
before Western civilization began to germinate — A.L.Kroeber