Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To increase in size by a natural process.
  • intransitive verb To expand; gain.
  • intransitive verb To increase in amount or degree; intensify.
  • intransitive verb To develop and reach maturity.
  • intransitive verb To be capable of growth; thrive.
  • intransitive verb To become attached by or as if by the process of growth.
  • intransitive verb To come into existence from a source; spring up.
  • intransitive verb To come to be by a gradual process or by degrees; become.
  • intransitive verb To cause to grow; raise.
  • intransitive verb To allow (something) to develop or increase by a natural process.
  • intransitive verb Usage Problem To cause to increase or expand by concerted effort.
  • idiom (grow out of) To develop or come into existence from.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of a crystal, to develop or enlarge by the addition of molecules arranged in accordance with the laws of molecular attraction.
  • To increase by a natural process of development or of enlargement, as a living organism or any of its parts; specifically, to increase by assimilation of nutriment, as animals or plants.
  • To be enlarged or extended, in general; increase; wax: as, a growing reputation; to grow in grace or in beauty.
  • To be changed from one state to another; become; be carried or extended, as to a condition or a result: as, to grow pale; to grow indifferent; to grow rich; the wind grew to a tempest.
  • To become attached or conjoined by or as if by a process of growth.
  • Nautical, to lead: as, the chain grows out on the port bow.
  • To pass beyond or away from in development; leave behind; give up: as, to grow out of one's early beliefs or follies.
  • To take root; spring up; arise: as, a hostile feeling grew up in the community.
  • To cause to grow; cultivate; produce; raise: as, a farmer grows large quantities of wheat.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To cause to grow; to cultivate; to produce
  • intransitive verb To increase in size by a natural and organic process; to increase in bulk by the gradual assimilation of new matter into the living organism; -- said of animals and vegetables and their organs.
  • intransitive verb To increase in any way; to become larger and stronger; to be augmented; to advance; to extend; to wax; to accrue.
  • intransitive verb To spring up and come to maturity in a natural way; to be produced by vegetation; to thrive; to flourish.
  • intransitive verb To pass from one state to another; to result as an effect from a cause; to become.
  • intransitive verb To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
  • intransitive verb a device for preserving alive a minute object in water continually renewed, in a manner to permit its growth to be watched under the microscope.
  • intransitive verb covered with a growth.
  • intransitive verb to issue from, as plants from the soil, or as a branch from the main stem; to result from.
  • intransitive verb to arrive at full stature or maturity; as, grown up children.
  • intransitive verb to close and adhere; to become united by growth, as flesh or the bark of a tree severed.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb ergative To become bigger.
  • verb intransitive To appear or sprout.
  • verb transitive To cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants.
  • verb copulative To assume a condition or quality over time.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb cause to grow or develop
  • verb pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
  • verb come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes)
  • verb grow emotionally or mature
  • verb become attached by or as if by the process of growth
  • verb become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain
  • verb come into existence; take on form or shape

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English growen, from Old English grōwan; see ghrē- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English growen, from Old English grōwan ("to grow, increase, flourish, germinate"), from Proto-Germanic *grōanan (“to grow, grow green”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰreH₁- (“to grow, become green”).

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Examples

  • Anyone who looks at the map of where the arena is going to be located will notice the complete lack of anywhere to grow anything, how is this supposed to “grow” downtown?

    Indy info - BatesLine 2005

  • Our dispositions should grow _mild_ as we _grow old_.

    Higher Lessons in English A work on english grammar and composition Brainerd Kellogg

  • And the fact that they grow now, renders it absolutely certain that they grew at first, when "out of the ground made the Lord God _to grow_" every plant of the field, and every tree that is pleasant to the sight.

    Life: Its True Genesis R. W. Wright

  • The yairbs grow; oh, yes, they make out to _grow_; but you don't see 'em come leapin 'an' tearin 'out o' the airth like weeds.

    Homespun Tales Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin 1889

  • I saw his expression grow less cheerful as he did so, and I figured that he must have reached the part about Tulsa.

    Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour Morgan Matson 2010

  • I saw his expression grow less cheerful as he did so, and I figured that he must have reached the part about Tulsa.

    Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour Morgan Matson 2010

  • Janet said nothing, watching his expression grow thoughtful.

    Thieves Like Us Starr Ambrose 2010

  • Riker filled her in and he saw her expression grow concerned.

    Doors Into Chaos Robert Greenberger 2001

  • Oh, Jason, she added, seeing his expression grow grim.

    Ishmael Barbara Hambly 2000

  • Oh, Jason, she added, seeing his expression grow grim.

    Ishmael Barbara Hambly 2000

Comments

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  • Jamaican slang for 'raised'.

    November 6, 2010