develop
VerbWordNet 3.0
Verb (21)
- 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”
- work out“We have developed a new theory of evolution”Synonyms: evolvegerminate
- 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”Synonyms: acquireevolve
- 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”Synonyms: growproducegetacquire
- 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”Synonyms: originateariseriseuprisespring upgrow
- 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”Synonyms: build up
- elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses“Could you develop the ideas in your thesis”Synonyms: explicateformulate
- create by training and teaching“The old master is training world-class violinists”“we develop the leaders for the future”Synonyms: trainprepareeducate
- be gradually disclosed or unfolded; become manifest“The plot developed slowly";”
- 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”
- become technologically advanced“Many countries in Asia are now developing at a very fast pace”“Viet Nam is modernizing rapidly”Synonyms: modernizemodernise
- 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”Synonyms: make grow
- generate gradually“We must develop more potential customers”“develop a market for the new mobile phone”
- 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”Synonyms: grow
- make visible by means of chemical solutions“Please develop this roll of film for me”
- superimpose a three-dimensional surface on a plane without stretching, in geometry
- move one's pieces into strategically more advantageous positions“Spassky developed quickly”
- move into a strategically more advantageous position“develop the rook”
- 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”
- happen“Report the news as it develops”“These political movements recrudesce from time to time”Synonyms: breakrecrudesce
- expand in the form of a series“Develop the function in the following form”
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
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. [1913 Webster]
These serve to develop its tenets.— Milner.[1913 Webster]
The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the line of the enemy.— The Century.[1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
The sound developed itself into a real compound.— J. Peile.[1913 Webster]
All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed.— Owen.[1913 Webster]
3.To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of. [1913 Webster]
We must develop our own resources to the utmost.— Jowett (Thucyd).[1913 Webster]
4.(Math.) To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Nor poets enough to understand That life develops from within.— Mrs. Browning.[1913 Webster]
2.To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators develop. [1913 Webster]