develop

de|vel|op [ dı`veləp ] verb ***

▸ 1 grow/change

▸ 2 be affected by/affect

▸ 3 improve/create

▸ 4 use land for something

▸ 5 prepare photograph

1. ) intransitive if people, animals, or plants develop, they change or grow as they get older:

All children develop at different rates.

develop into: The cell then develops into an embryo.

develop from: Fine white roots develop from the nodes on the stems.

a ) transitive to grow something:

The tree will gradually develop tough bark.

b ) intransitive to become bigger or more successful as a company, business, or industry:

Markets for such high-priced products develop slowly.

c ) transitive to make a company, business, or industry bigger or more successful:

The area is working to develop its tourist industry.

d ) intransitive to gradually become clear or complete as details are added:

The plot develops further in the second episode.

e ) transitive to gradually add details to an idea, plan, story, etc. to make it more clear or complete:

I'd like to fully develop my idea before discussing it.

f ) intransitive to change as events or conditions change, especially to become more serious:

We're waiting to see how things develop before we evacuate anyone.

2. ) transitive to begin to be affected by a disease or medical condition:

She died two years after first developing the illness.

a ) intransitive to begin to appear as part of an illness or medical condition:

A rash developed in a couple of days.

b ) transitive to begin to have something such as a feeling, habit, interest, or relationship:

She developed a taste for champagne while she was in France.

c ) intransitive to start to exist or start to be noticeable:

Their friendship developed at college.

d ) transitive to begin to have a problem or difficulty:

One of the engines developed a problem soon after takeoff.

e ) intransitive to begin to be a problem or cause difficulties:

Trouble with the neighbors soon developed.

3. ) transitive to improve your abilities, skills, or knowledge:

Get some advice on how to develop your physical strength.

a ) transitive to successfully create and use a new product or method:

The companies recently teamed up to develop new communications software.

b ) intransitive or transitive to make economic improvements to a country or region:

A government lending program is helping the region develop its economy.

4. ) transitive to use land for a particular purpose or in a way that increases its value:

A company applied for a zoning change to develop the land for housing.

5. ) transitive to treat a film with chemicals in order to make photographs