v.
Pronunciation: ' gr ō
Function: verb
Inflected Form: grew \ ' grü \ ; grown \ ' gr ō n \ ; grow · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gr ō wan; 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 grow ing 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 < grow s 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 grow s 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>
– grow · er \ ' gr ō (- ə )r \ noun
– grow · ing · ly \ ' gr ō -i ŋ -l ē \ adverb