verb
- past tense of germinate; (of a seed or spore) began to grow and put forth shoots after a period of dormancy
- past tense of germinate; (of an idea or plan) began to develop or take shape
Usage: figurative
Examples
- The seeds germinated after three days in the warm soil.
- Most of the beans had germinated by the end of the week.
- The idea for the novel germinated during her travels abroad.
- His plan for the business germinated slowly over several months.
- The tomato seeds germinated quickly in the greenhouse.
- Her interest in photography germinated from a childhood hobby.