grow

verb (grew; grown; growing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grōwan; akin to Old High German gruowan to grow Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to spring up and develop to maturity b. to be able to grow in some place or situation <

trees that grow in the tropics

> c. to assume some relation through or as if through a process of natural growth <

ferns growing from the rocks

> 2. a. to increase in size by assimilation of material into the living organism or by accretion of material in a nonbiological process (as crystallization) b. increase, expand <

grows in wisdom

> 3. to develop from a parent source <

the book grew out of a series of lectures

> 4. a. to pass into a condition ; become <

grew pale

> b. to have an increasing influence <

habit grows on a person

> c. to become increasingly acceptable or attractive <

didn't like it at first, but it grew on him

> transitive verb 1. a. to cause to grow <

grow wheat

> b. to let grow on the body <

grew a beard

> 2. to promote the development of <

start a business and grow it successfully — J. L. Deckter

> • grower noun • growingly adverb