germinal

[ jur-muh-nl ]
/ ˈdʒɜr mə nl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR germinal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

being in the earliest stage of development: germinal ideas.
of or relating to a germ or germs.
of the nature of a germ or germ cell.

Origin of germinal

1800–10; (< F) < Latin germin- (stem of germen sprout, bud; see germ) + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM germinal

ger·mi·nal·ly, adverb non·ger·mi·nal, adjective sub·ger·mi·nal, adjective sub·ger·mi·nal·ly, adverb

Words nearby germinal

germaphobe, germen, germfree, germicide, germinability, germinal, germinal area, germinal cell, germinal center of flemming, germinal disk, germinal epithelium

Definition for germinal (2 of 2)

Germinal
[ jur-muh-nl; French zher-mee-nal ]
/ ˈdʒɜr mə nl; French ʒɛr miˈnal /

noun

(in the French Revolutionary calendar) the seventh month of the year, extending from March 21 to April 19.
(italics) a novel (1884) by Émile Zola.

Origin of Germinal

From French; see origin at germinal

Words related to germinal

introductory, original, basic, incipient, promising, growing, fledgling, burgeoning, nascent, immature, undeveloped, antecedent, opening, leading, inaugural, pioneer, infant, initiative, fundamental, virgin

Example sentences from the Web for germinal

British Dictionary definitions for germinal (1 of 2)

germinal
/ (ˈdʒɜːmɪnəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, or like germs or a germ cell
of, or in the earliest stage of development; embryonic

Derived forms of germinal

germinally, adverb

Word Origin for germinal

C19: from New Latin germinālis, from Latin germen bud; see germ

British Dictionary definitions for germinal (2 of 2)

Germinal
/ French (ʒɛrminal) /

noun

the month of buds: the seventh month of the French revolutionary calendar, from March 22 to April 20

Medical definitions for germinal

germinal
[ jûr′mə-nəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or having the nature of a germ cell.
Of, relating to, or occurring in the earliest stage of development of an embryo or organism.