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germination

 - 4 dictionary results

ger⋅mi⋅nate

[jur-muh-neyt] verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.
–verb (used without object)
1. to begin to grow or develop.
2. Botany.
a. to develop into a plant or individual, as a seed, spore, or bulb.
b. to put forth shoots; sprout; pullulate.
3. to come into existence; begin.
–verb (used with object)
4. to cause to develop; produce.
5. to cause to come into existence; create.

Origin:
1600–10; < L germinātus (ptp. of germināre to sprout, bud), equiv. to germin- (see germinal ) + -ātus -ate 1


ger⋅mi⋅na⋅ble [jur-muh-nuh-buhl] , adjective
ger⋅mi⋅na⋅tion, noun
ger⋅mi⋅na⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ger·mi·nate   (jûr'mə-nāt')   


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v.   ger·mi·nat·ed, ger·mi·nat·ing, ger·mi·nates

v.   tr.
To cause to sprout or grow.
v.   intr.
  1. To begin to sprout or grow.

  2. To come into existence: An idea germinated in his mind.


[Latin germināre, germināt-, to sprout, from germen, germin-, sprout, bud; see genə- in Indo-European roots.]
ger'mi·na'tion n., ger'mi·na'tive adj., ger'mi·na'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

germination 
1594, from L. germinationem (nom. germinatio) "sprouting forth, budding," from germinare "to sprout, put forth shoots," from germen (gen. germinis) "a sprout or bud."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ger·mi·nate
Pronunciation: 'j&r-m&-"nAt
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -nat·ed; -nat·ing
transitive senses
: to cause to sprout or develop germinate intransitive senses
: to begin to grow : SPROUTger·mi·na·tion /"j&r-m&-'nA-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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