the germ of an idea/theory/feeling etcBEGINNINGthe early stage of an idea, feeling etc that may develop into something bigger and more important 观念/理论/感情等的萌芽 The germ of a story began to form in his mind. 一个故事开始在他的头脑里成形。
the germ of an idea/theory/feeling etc• It represents the germ of an idea which someday might explode into a national objective.
→ the germ of an idea/theory/feeling etc at germ(1)