1A reproductive element, especially a seed or embryo; the rudiment of an organism, capable of developing into a new one. Chieflyfigurative and in figurative contexts.
2Figurative. An initial stage or state from which something may develop; a source, a beginning.
Origin
Early 17th century; earliest use found in William Shakespeare (1564–1616), playwright and poet. From classical Latin germin-, germengerm, in scientific Latin also in sense 3 (LinnaeusGenera plantarum Introd. sig. **).