seminal

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsemɪnəl/ UK /ˈsemɪnəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #31647

Meanings

1

adj
strongly influencing later ideas, work, or developments; formative and original

Her seminal study changed how researchers understood memory.
2

adj
relating to, containing, or conveying semen

The laboratory analyzed a sample of seminal fluid.
3

adj
botany: relating to a seed or reproduction by seed

The cultivated variety rarely preserves the same traits through seminal propagation.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · strongly influencing later... influential formativegroundbreaking

2 adj · relating to, containing, or... reproductive

3 adj · botany: relating to a seed... seed-relatedgerminal

More originative

Opposites

derivative uninfluential

Word family

Derived forms seminallyseminality

Related forms semen seed germinal influence

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

seminal vesicle
one of a pair of glands producing fluid that contributes to semen

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English seminal and Old French seminal, from Latin seminalis, 'of seed or semen,' based on semen, 'seed.' The figurative sense treats an influential idea or work as a seed from which later developments grow.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# seminal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsemɪnəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsemɪnəl/
**Frequency rank:** 31647

## Meanings
1. strongly influencing later ideas, work, or developments; formative and original
2. relating to, containing, or conveying semen
3. botany: relating to a seed or reproduction by seed

## Examples
- Her seminal study changed how researchers understood memory.
- The laboratory analyzed a sample of seminal fluid.
- The cultivated variety rarely preserves the same traits through seminal propagation.

## Synonyms
- influential
- formative
- groundbreaking
- originative

## Antonyms
- derivative
- uninfluential

## Derived Forms
- seminally
- seminality

## Related Forms
- semen
- seed
- germinal
- influence

## Etymology
From Middle English seminal and Old French seminal, from Latin seminalis, 'of seed or semen,' based on semen, 'seed.' The figurative sense treats an influential idea or work as a seed from which later developments grow.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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