Etymology : Middle English, from Old English grOwan; akin to Old High German gruowan to grow
Pronunciation : grO
Function : verb
Date : before 12th century
1. become larger; cultivate; be changed; be; become. grow\grow\ , v. i. [imp. grew ; p. p. grown ; p. pr. & vb. n. growing.] [as. grawan; akin to d. groeijen, icel. groa, dan. groe, sw. gro. cf. green, grass.].
2. 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.
3. to increase in any way; to become larger and stronger; to be augmented; to advance; to extend; to wax; to accrue. winter began to grow fast on. even just the sum that i do owe to you is growing to me by antipholus.
4. to spring up and come to matturity in a natural way; to be produced by vegetation; to thrive; to flourish; as, rice grows in warm countries. where law faileth, error groweth.
5. to pass from one state to another; to result as an effect from a cause; to become; as, to grow pale. for his mind had grown suspicion's sanctuary.
6. to become attached of fixed; to adhere. our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow.
7. 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.
8. To increase in any way; to become larger and stronger; to be augmented; to advance; to extend; to wax; to accrue.
9. To spring up and come to maturity in a natural way; to be produced by vegetation; to thrive; to flourish; as, rice grows in warm countries.
10. To pass from one state to another; to result as an effect from a cause; to become; as, to grow pale.
11. To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
12. To cause to grow; to cultivate; to produce; as, to grow a crop; to grow wheat, hops, or tobacco. come to have or undergo a change of ; "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts" become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain; "The problem grew too large for me"; "Her business grew fast" increase in size by natural process; "Corn doesn't grow here"; "In these forests, mushrooms grow under the trees" cause to grow or develop; "He grows vegetables in his backyard" become attached by or as if by the process of growth; "The tree trunks had grown together" cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques; "The Bordeaux region produces great red wines"; "They produce good ham in Parma"; "We grow wheat here"; "We raise hogs here".
13. 1. When people, animals, and plants grow, they increase in size and change physically over a period of time. We stop growing at maturity.
14. 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.
15. If you grow a particular type of plant, you put seeds or young plants in the ground and look after them as they develop. I always grow a few red onions.
16. When someone's hair grows, it gradually becomes longer. Your nails also grow. Then the hair began to grow again and I felt terrific.
17. 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. I'd better start growing my hair.
18. If someone grows mentally, they change and develop in character or attitude. They began to grow as persons.
19. You use grow to say that someone or something gradually changes until they have a new quality, feeling, or attitude. I grew a little afraid of the guy next door He grew to love his work.
20. If an amount, feeling, or problem grows, it becomes greater or more intense. Opposition grew and the government agreed to negotiate. a growing number of immigrants.
21. If one thing grows into another, it develops or changes until it becomes that thing. The boys grew into men This political row threatens to grow into a full blown crisis.
22. If something such as an idea or a plan grows out of something else, it develops from it. The idea for this book grew out of conversations with Philippa Brewster.
23. If the economy or a business grows, it increases in wealth, size, or importance. The economy continues to grow. a fast growing business.
24. If someone grows a business, they take actions that will cause it to increase in wealth, size, or importance. To grow the business, he needs to develop management expertise and innovation across his team.
25. If a crystal grows, or if a scientist grows it, it forms from a solution. crystals that grow in cavities in the rock We tried to grow some copper sulphate crystals with our children. see also:
grown.