Adjacent Words

Develop definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DEVELOP, v.t.
1. To uncover; to unfold; to lay open; to disclose or make known something concealed or withheld from notice.
The General began to develop the plan of his operations.
These serve to develop its tenets.
2. To unravel; to unfold what is intricate; as, to develop a plot.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation; "Her company developed a new kind of building material that withstands all kinds of weather"; "They developed a new technique"
2: work out; "We have developed a new theory of evolution" [syn: evolve, germinate, develop]
3: gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position"; "develop a passion for painting" [syn: develop, acquire, evolve]
4: come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts" [syn: grow, develop, produce, get, acquire]
5: come into existence; take on form or shape; "A new religious movement originated in that country"; "a love that sprang up from friendship"; "the idea for the book grew out of a short story"; "An interesting phenomenon uprose" [syn: originate, arise, rise, develop, uprise, spring up, grow]
6: change the use of and make available or usable; "develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up" [syn: build up, develop]
7: elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses; "Could you develop the ideas in your thesis" [syn: explicate, formulate, develop]
8: create by training and teaching; "The old master is training world-class violinists"; "we develop the leaders for the future" [syn: train, develop, prepare, educate]
9: be gradually disclosed or unfolded; become manifest; "The plot developed slowly";
10: grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"
11: become technologically advanced; "Many countries in Asia are now developing at a very fast pace"; "Viet Nam is modernizing rapidly" [syn: modernize, modernise, develop]
12: cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its natural development; "The perfect climate here develops the grain"; "He developed a new kind of apple" [syn: develop, make grow]
13: generate gradually; "We must develop more potential customers"; "develop a market for the new mobile phone"
14: grow emotionally or mature; "The child developed beautifully in her new kindergarten"; "When he spent a summer at camp, the boy grew noticeably and no longer showed some of his old adolescent behavior" [syn: develop, grow]
15: make visible by means of chemical solutions; "Please develop this roll of film for me"
16: superimpose a three-dimensional surface on a plane without stretching, in geometry
17: move one's pieces into strategically more advantageous positions; "Spassky developed quickly"
18: move into a strategically more advantageous position; "develop the rook"
19: elaborate by the unfolding of a musical idea and by the working out of the rhythmic and harmonic changes in the theme; "develop the melody and change the key"
20: happen; "Report the news as it develops"; "These political movements recrudesce from time to time" [syn: break, recrudesce, develop]
21: expand in the form of a series; "Develop the function in the following form"

Merriam Webster's

verb Etymology: French développer, from Old French desveloper, desvoluper to unwrap, expose, from des- de- + envoloper to enclose — more at envelop Date: 1750 transitive verb 1. a. to set forth or make clear by degrees or in detail ; expound <develop a thesis> b. to make visible or manifest c. to treat (as in dyeing) with an agent to cause the appearance of color d. to subject (exposed photograph material) especially to chemicals in order to produce a visible image <develop film>; also to make visible by such a method <develop pictures> e. to elaborate (a musical idea) by the working out of rhythmic and harmonic changes in the theme 2. a. to work out the possibilities of <develop an idea> b. to create or produce especially by deliberate effort over time <develop new ways of doing business> <develop software> 3. a. to make active or promote the growth of <developed his muscles> b. (1) to make available or usable <develop natural resources> (2) to make suitable for commercial or residential purposes <develop land> c. to move (as a chess piece) from the original position to one providing more opportunity for effective use 4. a. to cause to unfold gradually <developed his argument> b. to expand by a process of growth <working to develop the company further> c. to cause to grow and differentiate along lines natural to its kind <rain and sun develop the grain> d. to become infected or affected by <developed pneumonia> 5. to acquire gradually <develop an appreciation for ballet> intransitive verb 1. a. to go through a process of natural growth, differentiation, or evolution by successive changes <a blossom develops from a bud> b. to acquire secondary sex characteristics 2. to become gradually manifest 3. to come into being gradually <the situation developing in eastern Europe>; also turn out 2a <it developed that no one had paid the bill> • developable adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. (developed, developing) 1 tr. & intr. a make or become bigger or fuller or more elaborate or systematic (the new town developed rapidly). b bring or come to an active or visible state or to maturity (developed a plan of action). 2 tr. begin to exhibit or suffer from (developed a rattle). 3 tr. a construct new buildings on (land). b convert (land) to a new purpose so as to use its resources more fully. 4 tr. treat (photographic film etc.) to make the latent image visible. 5 tr. Mus. elaborate (a theme) by modification of the melody, harmony, rhythm, etc. 6 tr. Chess bring (a piece) into position for effective use. Phrases and idioms: developing country a poor or primitive country that is developing better economic and social conditions. Derivatives: developer n. Etymology: F développer f. Rmc (as DIS-, orig. of second element unknown)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Develop De*vel"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed; p. pr. & vb. n. Developing.] [F. d['e]veloper; d['e]- (L. dis-) + OF. voluper, voleper, to envelop, perh. from L. volup agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig., to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf. Voluptuous); or. perh. fr. a derivative of volvere, volutum, to roll (cf. Devolve). Cf. Envelop.] [Written also develope.] 1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose; to produce or give forth; as, to develop theories; a motor that develops 100 horse power. These serve to develop its tenets. --Milner. The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the line of the enemy. --The Century. 2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring through a succession of states or stages, each of which is preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of being; as, sunshine and rain develop the bud into a flower; to develop the mind. The sound developed itself into a real compound. --J. Peile. All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed. --Owen. 3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of. We must develop our own resources to the utmost. --Jowett (Thucyd). 4. (Math.) To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value. 5. (Photog.) To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view. To develop a curved surface on a plane (Geom.), to produce on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch the plane. Syn: To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Develop De*vel"op, v. i. 1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more highly organized state; to advance from a simpler form of existence to one more complex either in structure or function; as, a blossom develops from a bud; the seed develops into a plant; the embryo develops into a well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year. Nor poets enough to understand That life develops from within. --Mrs. Browning. 2. To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators develop.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(develops, developing, developed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. When something develops, it grows or changes over a period of time and usually becomes more advanced, complete, or severe. It's hard to say at this stage how the market will develop... These clashes could develop into open warfare... Society begins to have an impact on the developing child. VERB: V, V into n, V-ing • developed Their bodies were well-developed and super fit. ADJ 2. If a problem or difficulty develops, it begins to occur. A huge row has developed about the pollution emanating from a chemical plant. ...blood clots in his lungs, a problem which developed from a leg injury. = arise VERB: V, V from/out of n 3. If you say that a country develops, you mean that it changes from being a poor agricultural country to being a rich industrial country. All countries, it was predicted, would develop and develop fast. VERB: V see also developed, developing 4. If you develop a business or industry, or if it develops, it becomes bigger and more successful. (BUSINESS) She won a grant to develop her own business... Over the last few years tourism here has developed considerably. VERB: V n, V • developed Housing finance is less developed in continental Europe. ADJ 5. To develop land or property means to make it more profitable, by building houses or factories or by improving the existing buildings. Entrepreneurs developed fashionable restaurants and bars in the area. VERB: V n • developed Developed land was to grow from 5.3% to 6.9%. ADJ 6. If you develop a habit, reputation, or belief, you start to have it and it then becomes stronger or more noticeable. Mr Robinson has developed the reputation of a ruthless cost-cutter. = acquire VERB: V n 7. If you develop a skill, quality, or relationship, or if it develops, it becomes better or stronger. Now you have an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of each other... Their friendship developed through their shared interest in the Arts. VERB: V n, V • developed ...a highly developed instinct for self-preservation. ADJ 8. If you develop an illness, or if it develops, you become affected by it. The test should identify which smokers are most prone to develop lung cancer... A sharp ache developed in her back muscles. VERB: V n, V 9. If a piece of equipment develops a fault, it starts to have the fault. The aircraft made an unscheduled landing after developing an electrical fault. VERB: V n 10. If someone develops a new product, they design it and produce it. He claims that several countries have developed nuclear weapons secretly. VERB: V n 11. If you develop an idea, theory, story, or theme, or if it develops, it gradually becomes more detailed, advanced, or complex. I would like to thank them for allowing me to develop their original idea... The idea of weather forecasting developed incredibly quickly. VERB: V n, V 12. To develop photographs means to make negatives or prints from a photographic film. VERB

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Unfold, evolve, disclose, exhibit, unravel, disentangle, make known, lay open. 2. Cause to grow, bring to maturity, bring out. 3. (Alg.) Expand, perform the operations indicated in. II. v. n. Unfold, open, grow, be developed, advance to maturity, advance in successive or continuous gradation.

Moby Thesaurus

accrue, accumulate, achieve, acquire, actualize, add to, advance, affect, age, aggrandize, ameliorate, amend, amplify, appear, appreciate, apprentice, arise, attain, attain majority, attend, augment, balloon, bare, bear fruit, beautify, become of, befall, beget, begin, betide, betoken, bloat, bloom, blossom, blow up, blueprint, boom, brandish, break, break in, break the seal, breathe, breed, brew, bring forth, bring forward, bring into being, bring into view, bring out, bring to light, bring to notice, bring up, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, burgeon, call into being, chance, coin, come, come about, come along, come forth, come of, come of age, come on, come out, come to light, come to maturity, commence, complete, conceive, concoct, condition, contrive, cook up, crescendo, crown, culminate, cultivate, dangle, demonstrate, descant, design, detail, devise, dilate, discipline, disclose, discover, dismask, display, distend, divulge, do to perfection, dramatize, draw the veil, dream up, drill, elaborate, embellish, embody, emerge, enact, end, engender, enlarge, enlarge upon, ensue, establish, eventuate, evidence, evince, evolute, evolve, exercise, exhibit, expand, expatiate, explicate, exploit, expose, expose to view, express, extend, fabricate, fall out, fare, fetch up, fill out, finish, fit, flaunt, fledge, flourish, flower, follow, form, foster, frame, gain, gain ground, gain strength, gather, generate, germinate, get, get ahead, get along, give being to, give rise to, give sign, give token, go ahead, go forward, go up, graduate, greaten, groom, grow, grow better, grow up, happen, hatch, highlight, hike, hike up, house-train, housebreak, huff, hypertrophy, illuminate, impart, improve, improvise, incarnate, increase, indicate, inflate, intensify, invent, issue, lay bare, lay open, leave the nest, let daylight in, let out, lick into shape, look up, magnify, make clear, make do with, make headway, make plain, make progress, make strides, make up, manifest, materialize, maturate, mature, mean, meliorate, mellow, mend, mint, mount, multiply, mushroom, nurse, nurture, obtain, occur, open, open up, originate, outgrow, overdevelop, overgrow, overtop, pan out, parade, particularize, perfect, perform, perk up, pick up, plan, polish, practice, prepare, present, print, process, procreate, produce, progress, proliferate, promote, prosper, prove, prove to be, puff, puff up, pullulate, pump, pump up, put in tune, put to school, raise, raise the curtain, rarefy, reach, reach manhood, reach twenty-one, reach voting age, ready, realize, rear, refine, rehearse, rehearse in extenso, relate at large, represent, reproduce, result, reveal, ripen, rise, roll out, run up, season, send to school, set forth, settle down, shape up, shoot up, show, show forth, show improvement, show up, skyrocket, snowball, spawn, spotlight, spread, spring up, sprout, sprout up, strengthen, stretch, strike out, strip bare, sufflate, swell, take in hand, take off, temper, terminate, think out, think up, thrive, toga virilis, token, tower, train, transpire, trot out, tumefy, turn out, uncloak, uncover, undrape, unfold, unfurl, unkennel, unmask, unpack, unroll, unscreen, unsheathe, unshroud, unveil, unwrap, up, upshoot, upspear, upspring, upsprout, vegetate, wave, wax, widen, work out