germination
jur-mih-NAY-shuhn
/ˌdʒɜːrmɪˈneɪʃən/
The process by which a plant grows from a seed or spore after a period of dormancy.
Refers strictly to the initial biological awakening and sprouting of the seed, not the subsequent mature growth of the plant.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'germen', meaning a sprout or bud. In ancient times, it referred to the physical bud on a tree branch. By the 17th century, scientists adopted the term to describe the microscopic, miraculous moment when a dry, seemingly dead seed wakes up and pushes its first root into the earth.
Word relationships
- sprouting: Sprouting is the common, visual term for the shoot appearing, while germination is the complete biological process occurring inside and outside the seed coat.
- dormancy: Dormancy is the state of suspended biological activity in a seed, which is broken by the process of germination.
Commonly confused with
- pollination: Pollination is the transfer of pollen to fertilize a flower, whereas germination is the sprouting of a seed long after fertilization.
Word family
- germinate (verb): To begin to grow and put out shoots.
- germinative (adjective): Relating to or causing germination.
Collocations
- seed germination
- germination rate
- germination process
- promote germination
Example sentences
- "During the germination of the seed, the radicle is the first part to emerge, growing downward into the soil." A classic scientific treatise on botany. (Charles Darwin, The Power of Movement in Plants)
- "Keep the soil consistently moist for the first ten days to ensure successful germination." Instructions on a packet of wildflower seeds.
Memory hook
Think of 'germs'—not the bad kind, but 'germ' in its original sense of a tiny, living starting point. Germination is when that tiny spark of life starts to grow. Germination is the seed's wake-up call.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a plant that is already leafy and flowering; germination ends once the first true leaves emerge from the seedling.
Fun facts
- Some seeds require extreme conditions for germination; for example, certain pine trees have seeds that will only germinate after being exposed to the intense heat of a forest fire.
Related words
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