develop
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state.
to develop natural resources; to develop one's musical talent.
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to cause to grow or expand.
to develop one's muscles.
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to elaborate or expand in detail.
to develop a theory.
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to bring into being or activity; generate; evolve.
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Drafting. to transfer the details of (a more or less two-dimensional design, pattern, or the like) from one surface, especially one that is prismatic or cylindrical, onto another, usually planar, in such a way that the distances between points remain the same.
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Biology.
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to cause to go through the process of natural evolution from a previous and lower stage.
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to cause to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
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Mathematics. to express in an extended form, as in a series.
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Music. to unfold, by various technical means, the inherent possibilities of (a theme).
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Photography.
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to render visible (the latent image on an exposed film or the like).
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to treat (an exposed film or the like) with chemicals so as to render the latent image visible.
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Chess. to bring (a piece) into effective play, especially during the initial phase of a game when pieces are moved from their original position on the board.
He developed his rook by castling.
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Mining. to prepare (a new mine) for working by digging access openings and building necessary structures.
verb (used without object)
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to grow into a more mature or advanced state; advance; expand.
She is developing into a good reporter.
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to come gradually into existence or operation; be evolved.
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to be disclosed; become evident or manifest.
The plot of the novel developed slowly.
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to undergo developing, as a photographic film.
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Biology.
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to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
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to progress from earlier to later stages of ontogeny or phylogeny.
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to reach sexual maturity.
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verb
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to come or bring to a later or more advanced or expanded stage; grow or cause to grow gradually
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(tr) to elaborate or work out in detail
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to disclose or unfold (thoughts, a plot, etc) gradually or (of thoughts, etc) to be gradually disclosed or unfolded
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to come or bring into existence; generate or be generated
he developed a new faith in God
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to follow as a result (of); ensue (from)
a row developed following the chairman's remarks
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(tr) to contract (a disease or illness)
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(tr) to improve the value or change the use of (land), as by building
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(tr) to exploit or make available the natural resources of (a country or region)
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(tr) photog
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to treat (film, plate, or paper previously exposed to light, or the latent image in such material) with chemical solutions in order to produce a visible image
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to process (photographic material) in order to produce negatives and prints
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biology to progress or cause to progress from simple to complex stages in the growth of an individual or the evolution of a species
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(tr) to elaborate upon (a musical theme) by varying the melody, key, etc
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(tr) maths to expand (a function or expression) in the form of a series
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(tr) geometry to project or roll out (a surface) onto a plane without stretching or shrinking any element
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chess to bring (a piece) into play from its initial position on the back rank
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obsolete (tr) to disclose or reveal
Other Word Forms
- developability noun
- developable adjective
- half-developed adjective
- hyperdeveloped adjective
- misdevelop verb
- nondevelopable adjective
- predevelop verb
- undevelopable adjective
- well-developed adjective
Etymology
Origin of develop
First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French développer, Old French desveloper, equivalent to des- dis- 1 ( def. ) + voloper “to wrap up”; envelop ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since then, Spurs have sacked three permanent managers, while Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta - in charge for the past six years - has developed his side into consistent title contenders.
From BBC
The off-the-shelf solution saves on time and costs as "we don't have to keep teaching people how to use a proprietary tech" developed in-house, Amos added.
From Barron's
A Brit School-inspired creative arts college is expected to open in Bradford in 2028 to help develop talent in the north.
From BBC
Some users and rights activists have welcomed the move, arguing that big tech companies should not exploit large developing markets solely for profit.
From BBC
So much so, she says, the stretch marks she developed after having her two children have almost disappeared.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
