WordValegermination
the sprouting of a seed into a plant
In more detail
1. (noun) the process by which a seed starts to grow and develop into a plant
2. (noun) the beginning or early development of an idea, plan, or movement
Examples
- 1. Germination of the seeds takes about two weeks in warm soil.
- 2. The germination of the independence movement began decades before the actual revolution.
How to use germination
Germination is used both literally to describe the biological process when seeds begin to sprout and metaphorically to describe the initial stages of development of abstract concepts like ideas or movements. In scientific contexts, it refers to a specific physiological process; in figurative use, it emphasizes the earliest, most delicate phase of something emerging.
Common phrases
- seed germination
- germination rate
- germination period
- promote germination
- germination of ideas
Synonyms
sprouting · growth · emergence · development · budding
Word family
germinate (verb) · germinal (adjective) · germinating (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse germination with the seed itself or with fully grown plants; germination is specifically the process of beginning growth, not the seed or the mature plant.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD