n.
Pronunciation: ˌ v ə r-n ə -l ə - ' z ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Date: 1933
: the act or process of hastening the flowering and fruiting of plants by treating seeds, bulbs, or seedlings so as to induce a shortening of the vegetative period
– ver · nal · ize \ ' v ə r-n ə - ˌ l ī z \ transitive verb