GROW

(INCREASE) [verb] [past simple] grew, [past participle] grown - to increase in size or amount, or to become more advanced or developedThis plant grows best in the shade. [I]She has grown two centimetres taller in the past couple of months. [L only +adjective]Football's popularity continues to grow. [I]The labour force is expected to grow by 2% next year. [I]The male deer grows large branching horns called antlers. [T]One aim of psychotherapy is to enable people to grow in all their relationships (= to develop stronger emotions within relationships). [I]If you grow your hair, you let it become longer and do not cut it.She wanted to grow her hair long.If a man grows a beard, he lets hair develop on the lower part of his face.I grew a beard so as not to have the bother of shaving every morning.If a plant grows in a particular place, it exists and develops there.The roses grew up against the wall of the cottage.If you grow a plant, you put it in the ground and take care of it.The villagers grow coffee and maize to sell in the market.If children grow into clothes, they become tall or big enough for the clothes to fit them.If you buy the shoes half a size larger, she'll have grown into them by next month.See also grow into at grow (BECOME).If children grow out of clothes, they become too tall or big to fit into the clothes.Tyler has grown out of her sundress.If you grow out of an interest or way of behaving, you stop having or doing it as you become older.He wants to join the army when he leaves school, but I hope he'll grow out of it.If an idea grows out of another one, it develops from it.The idea for the story grew out of a strange experience I had last year.When children grow up, they gradually become adults.I grew up in Scotland (= I lived in Scotland when I was young).Taking responsibility for yourself is part of the process of growing up (= becoming an adult).(informal) If you say grow up to someone, you are telling them to stop behaving in a silly or foolish way.Oh, do grow up you two and stop fighting!If a town or city grows up, it starts to increase in size or importance.The city grew up originally as a crossing point on the river.If you say that something, esp. money, does not grow on trees, you mean that it is valuable and should not be wasted.You shouldn't spend all your money at once - it doesn't grow on trees, you know.A grown-up is a person who is an adult.The grown-ups always spoil our fun and tell us to be quiet or play outside.If you say that someone is grown-up, you mean that they are an adult or that they behave in a responsible way.She has two grown-up children who work in the family business with her.Even at ten years old, he was very grown-up and sensible.This book is a bit too grown-up for you (= you are too young to understand this book).