WordWeb Online

1. Produce buds, branches, or germinate
   "the potatoes germinated";
   - shoot, spud [informal], pullulate, bourgeon [archaic], burgeon forth [archaic], sprout, burgeon [archaic]
    
2. Start and work to gradually produce or understand
   "We have germinated a new theory of evolution";
   - evolve, develop
    
3. Cause to grow or sprout
   "the plentiful rain germinated my plants"

Derived forms: germinating, germinates, germinated

Type of: create by mental act, create mentally, grow

Encyclopedia: Germinate