germinate

germinate


ger·mi·nate    Audio Help   (jûr'mə-nāt')   

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.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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