Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Germinate \Ger"mi*nate\, v. t.
   To cause to sprout. --Price (1610).

Germinate \Ger"mi*nate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Germinated}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Germinating}.] [L. germinatus, p. p. of
   germinare to sprout, fr. germen. See {Germ}.]
   To sprout; to bud; to shoot; to begin to vegetate, as a plant
   or its seed; to begin to develop, as a germ. --Bacon.

Source : WordNet®

germinate
     v 1: produce buds, branches, or germinate; "the potatoes
          sprouted" [syn: {shoot}, {spud}, {pullulate}, {bourgeon},
           {burgeon forth}, {sprout}]
     2: work out; "We have developed a new theory of evolution"
        [syn: {evolve}, {develop}]
     3: cause to grow or sprout; "the plentiful rain germinated my
        plants"