[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/germinate/)

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# germinate

verb (germinate, germinates, germinated, germinating)

«germinate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. When a seed germinates, it starts to grow and puts out a root and a shoot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#m1)
2. To germinate an idea is to begin to develop it (formal). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, seeds need water, warmth and air to germinate; light is not needed at first. Children germinate beans in jars on wet cotton wool or paper towel. Phrases: «seeds germinate», «take days to germinate».

### Examples

- The bean seeds germinated after five days. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#x1)
- Seeds need water and warmth to germinate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#x2)
- We germinated cress on damp cotton wool. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#x3)
- Seeds will not germinate if they are too cold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#x4)
- The root comes out first when a seed germinates. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#x5)
- An idea for the story germinated in her head. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/#x6)

### Note

Noun: «germination». Not to be confused with «germ» (a tiny thing that causes illness) — though both come from an old word for «seed» or «sprout». In science problems, count the days to germinate or the number of seeds that germinate out of a total («8 out of 10 germinated»).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «germinate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/germinate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«germinate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/germinate.html) on Mova free.