GROW

verb (grew; ~n; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grōwan; akin to Old High German gruowan to ~ Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to spring up and develop to maturity, to be able to ~ in some place or situation , to assume some relation through or as if through a process of natural ~th , 2. to increase in size by assimilation of material into the living organism or by accretion of material in a nonbiological process (as crystallization), increase , expand , to develop from a parent source , 4. to pass into a condition ; become , to have an increasing influence , to become increasingly acceptable or attractive , transitive verb 1. to cause to ~ , to let ~ on the body , to promote the development of , ~er noun ~ingly adverb