Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb germinate

3 senses of germinate

Sense 1
shoot, spud, germinate, pullulate, bourgeon, burgeon forth, sprout -- (produce buds, branches, or germinate; "the potatoes sprouted")
       => grow -- (increase in size by natural process; "Corn doesn't grow here"; "In these forests, mushrooms grow under the trees"; "her hair doesn't grow much anymore")

Sense 2
evolve, germinate, develop -- (work out; "We have developed a new theory of evolution")
       => create by mental act, create mentally -- (create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands)

Sense 3
germinate -- (cause to grow or sprout; "the plentiful rain germinated my plants")
       => grow -- (cause to grow or develop; "He grows vegetables in his backyard")