sprouting

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

sprouting
    n 1: the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to
         grow [syn: {germination}, {sprouting}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Sprout \Sprout\ (sprout), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sprouted}; p. pr.
   & vb. n. {Sprouting}.] [OE. sprouten, spruten; akin to
   OFries. spr[=u]ta, AS. spre['o]tan, D. spruiten, G.
   spriessen, Sw. spruta to squirt, to spout. Cf. {Sprit}, v. t.
   & i., {Sprit} a spar, {Spout}, v. t., {Spurt}.]
   1. To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push
      out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To shoot into ramifications. [Obs.] --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]