vernalize
/ˈvɜː.nə.laɪz/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make a plant flower or grow seeds by giving it a period of cold. Farmers and scientists use this word in plant science.
- We vernalized the seedlings before planting them.
- Cold weather vernalizes some wheat varieties.
- The lab vernalized the bulbs in a fridge.
Adinary Nuance
Vernalize is more specific than "chill" or "cold-treat." It means giving a plant controlled cold so it can flower or set seed properly. Writers choose it in scientific or agricultural contexts, not in everyday speech. It is not the same as simply cooling a plant.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- xử lý lạnh
- Spanish
- vernalizar
- Chinese
- 春化
- Japanese
- 春化する
- Korean
- 춘화시키다
Etymology
Vernalize comes from Latin vernalis, meaning "of spring." It appeared in English in the early 20th century, mainly in agriculture and botany.
Common phrases
vernalize seedsvernalize bulbsvernalize wheat
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is vernalize a common word?
- No, it is mostly used in farming, botany, and academic writing.
- Is vernalize the same as chill?
- Not exactly. Vernalize means to give cold treatment for flowering or seed production.
- Can I use vernalize in everyday conversation?
- You can, but it may sound technical outside science or agriculture.