(~s, ~ing, grew, ~n)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When people, animals, and plants ~, they increase in size and change physically over a period of time.
We stop ~ing at maturity.
VERB: V
2.
If a plant or tree ~s in a particular place, it is alive there.
The station had roses ~ing at each end of the platform.
VERB: V
3.
If you ~ a particular type of plant, you put seeds or young plants in the ground and look after them as they develop.
I always ~ a few red onions...
VERB: V n
4.
When someone’s hair ~s, it gradually becomes longer. Your nails also ~.
Then the hair began to ~ again and I felt terrific.
VERB: V
5.
If someone ~s their hair, or ~s a beard or moustache, they stop cutting their hair or shaving so that their hair becomes longer. You can also ~ your nails.
I’d better start ~ing my hair.
VERB: V n
6.
If someone ~s mentally, they change and develop in character or attitude.
They began to ~ as persons.
VERB: V
7.
You use ~ 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.
V-LINK: V adj, V to-inf
8.
If an amount, feeling, or problem ~s, it becomes greater or more intense.
Opposition grew and the government agreed to negotiate.
...a ~ing number of immigrants.
VERB: V, V-ing
9.
If one thing ~s into another, it develops or changes until it becomes that thing.
The boys grew into men...
This political row threatens to ~ into a full blown crisis.
VERB: V into n, V into n
10.
If something such as an idea or a plan ~s out of something else, it develops from it.
The idea for this book grew out of conversations with Philippa Brewster.
VERB: V out of n
11.
If the economy or a business ~s, it increases in wealth, size, or importance. (BUSINESS)
The economy continues to ~.
...a fast ~ing business.
VERB: V, V-ing
12.
If someone ~s a business, they take actions that will cause it to increase in wealth, size, or importance. (BUSINESS)
To ~ the business, he needs to develop management expertise and innovation across his team.
VERB: V n
13.
If a crystal ~s, or if a scientist ~s it, it forms from a solution.
...crystals that ~ in cavities in the rock...
We tried to ~ some copper sulphate crystals with our children.
VERB: V, V n
14.
see also ~n