germinal

[jur-muh-nl] /ˈdʒɜr mə nl/
adjective
1.
being in the earliest stage of development:
germinal ideas.
2.
of or pertaining to a germ or germs.
3.
of the nature of a germ or germ cell.
Origin
1800-10; (< F) < Latin germin- (stem of germen sprout, bud; see germ) + -al1
Related forms
germinally, adverb
nongerminal, adjective
subgerminal, adjective
subgerminally, adverb

Germinal

[jur-muh-nl; French zher-mee-nal] /ˈdʒɜr mə nl; French ʒɛr miˈnal/
noun
1.
(in the French Revolutionary calendar) the seventh month of the year, extending from March 21 to April 19.
2.
(italics) a novel (1884) by Émile Zola.
Origin
< French; see germinal
British Dictionary definitions for germinal

germinal

/ˈdʒɜːmɪnəl/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or like germs or a germ cell
2.
of, or in the earliest stage of development; embryonic
Derived Forms
germinally, adverb
Word Origin
C19: from New Latin germinālis, from Latin germen bud; see germ

Germinal

/ʒɛrminal/
noun
1.
the month of buds: the seventh month of the French revolutionary calendar, from March 22 to April 20
Word Origin and History for germinal
adj.

1808, from Modern Latin germinalis "in the germ," from Latin germen (genitive germinis) "sprout, bud, sprig, offshoot" (see germ) + -al (1).

germinal in Medicine

germinal ger·mi·nal (jûr'mə-nəl)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, or having the nature of a germ cell.

  2. Of, relating to, or occurring in the earliest stage of development of an embryo or organism.