Word Study
germinate
CIDE DICTIONARY
germinate, v. i. [L. germinatus, p. p. of germinare to sprout, fr. germen. See Germ.].
To sprout; to bud; to shoot; to begin to vegetate, as a plant or its seed; to begin to develop, as a germ. Bacon. [1913 Webster]
germinate, v. t.
To cause to sprout. Price (1610). [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
germinate, v.
1 a intr. sprout, bud, or put forth shoots. b tr. cause to sprout or shoot.
2 a tr. cause (ideas etc.) to originate or develop. b intr. come into existence.
1 a intr. sprout, bud, or put forth shoots. b tr. cause to sprout or shoot.
2 a tr. cause (ideas etc.) to originate or develop. b intr. come into existence.
Derivative
germination n. germinative adj. germinator n.
Etymology
L germinare germinat- (as GERM)
THESAURUS
germinate
blossom, brew, bud, burgeon, burst forth, develop, flourish, gather, gemmate, grow, grow rank, grow up, hypertrophy, increase, leaf, leaf out, leave, luxuriate, mature, mushroom, outgrow, overdevelop, overgrow, overrun, overtop, procreate, pullulate, put forth, put forth leaves, put out buds, reproduce, riot, root, shoot, shoot up, spring up, sprout, sprout up, strike root, take root, thrive, tower, upshoot, upspear, upspring, upsprout, vegetate, waxROGET THESAURUS
germinate
Expansion
VB become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten.For further exploring for "germinate" in Webster Dictionary Online