Germination is the process when a seed begins to grow into a new plant. Inside every seed is a tiny plant waiting for the right conditions: warmth, moisture, and sometimes light. When these conditions arrive, the seed's outer coating softens, a small root pushes down into the soil, and a shoot reaches up toward the sun. That magical moment when the seed cracks open and life begins is germination.

You can watch germination happen by placing bean seeds on a damp paper towel in a clear container. Within days, you'll see the seeds swell, split, and sprout. Farmers depend on germination every spring when they plant crops. Gardeners test their seeds' germination rate to see what percentage will actually sprout.

Different seeds have different germination needs. Some desert plant seeds won't germinate until rain soaks them. Other seeds need to freeze through winter before they'll grow. Some require fire or even passage through an animal's digestive system. These varied requirements help plants survive in different environments and ensure they germinate at the right time.

Scientists sometimes use germinate metaphorically to describe how ideas begin to grow and develop in someone's mind.