- grow
- [[t]gro͟ʊ[/t]]
♦1) VERB When people, animals, and plants grow, they increase in size and change physically over a period of time.
We stop growing at maturity.
2) VERB If a plant or tree grows in a particular place, it is alive there.The station had roses growing at each end of the platform.
3) VERB If you grow a particular type of plant, you put seeds or young plants in the ground and look after them as they develop.[V n] I always grow a few red onions...
[V n] Lettuce was grown by the Ancient Romans.
4) VERB When someone's hair grows, it gradually becomes longer. Your nails also grow.Then the hair began to grow again and I felt terrific.
5) VERB If someone grows their hair, or grows a beard or moustache, they stop cutting their hair or shaving so that their hair becomes longer. You can also grow your nails.[V n] I'd better start growing my hair.
6) VERB If someone grows mentally, they change and develop in character or attitude.They began to grow as persons.
7) V-LINK You use grow to say that someone or something gradually changes until they have a new quality, feeling, or attitude.[V adj] I grew a little afraid of the guy next door...
[V adj] He's growing old...
[V to-inf] He grew to love his work.
8) VERB If an amount, feeling, or problem grows, it becomes greater or more intense.The number of unemployed people in Poland has grown by more than a quarter in the last month...
Opposition grew and the government agreed to negotiate.
[V-ing] ...a growing number of immigrants.
9) VERB If one thing grows into another, it develops or changes until it becomes that thing.[V into n] The boys grew into men...
[V into n] This political row threatens to grow into a full blown crisis.
10) VERB If something such as an idea or a plan grows out of something else, it develops from it.[V out of n] The idea for this book grew out of conversations with Philippa Brewster.
11) VERB If the economy or a business grows, it increases in wealth, size, or importance.The economy continues to grow.
[V-ing] ...a fast growing business.
12) V-ERG If a crystal grows, or if a scientist grows it, it forms from a solution....crystals that grow in cavities in the rock...
[V n] We tried to grow some copper sulphate crystals with our children.
13) → See also grownPhrasal Verbs:- grow on- grow out- grow up
English dictionary. 2008.
