I. ˈgrōth noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English (Scots dialect) grouth, from Old Norse grōthr, grōthi, from grōa to grow — more at grow
1.
a.
(1) : stage in the process of growing : size
the river reaches its greatest growth a few miles above St. Louis
the tree hasn't got its full growth
: stature
give added growth and dimension to a book — Norman Cousins
(2) : full growth
by the looks of him he would be every inch of six feet when he attained his growth — Archie Binns
b. : the process of growing: as
(1) : an increase in the size of an organism or part especially when involving increase in the amount of protoplasm — compare development , differentiation
(2) : increase in size by a natural inorganic process whereby material is added to the surface in such a way as to continue the established regular or periodic structure
growth or regrowth of mica under the influence of late solutions — Economic Geology
(3) : a progressive development from lower or simpler to higher or more complex forms of organization : evolution
the … history of the growth of writing — A.N.Whitehead
the growth and decay of languages — G.R.Harrison
(4) : progressive intellectual or moral advance or development : cultural or spiritual self-enrichment
a lifetime of learning and continuous growth is required of us — R.H.Wittcoff
novels provide the basis for growth , experiences which can be rich and full — Irish Digest
learning and growth are always a result of what the individual brings to the learning situation — H.R.Douglass
the theory that our native writers suffered from arrested growth — C.I.Glicksberg
(5) : rise , emergence
his lifetime encompassed the … growth of the solidly Democratic South — Current History
the first growth and development of Macedonia … into the first of all known powers — George Grote
(6) : qualitative or quantitative increase : expansion
the growth of the oil industry
the rapid growth in luxury and sophistication — Carl Van Doren
the growth of urban population
the growth of illiteracy
2.
a. : something that grows or has grown: as
(1) : a stand of forest
the road is bordered with close growths of willow — American Guide Series: Louisiana
a young growth dedicated in 1926 — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
— see old growth , second growth
(2) : a cover of vegetation : vegetation
a dense … growth of European grasses which formed a thick sod — P.E.James
the only other growth here showing is a very little salt grass — G.R.Stewart
(3) : plant
this weed is a very noxious growth
(4) : a lateral shoot or branch on the main stem of a plant
b. : abnormal proliferation of tissue (as a tumor)
c. : outgrowth , offshoot
a lovely phrase … which is really a growth from the main tune — Herbert Wiseman
d. : the result of growth : product , effect , development
Protestantism was a relatively recent growth
this was the growth of habit — Ellen Glasgow
Virginia City and other Nevada towns were mushroom growths from silver ore — Dict. of American History
3. : production , cultivation , origin
goods of foreign growth
all his fruit and vegetables were of his own growth
II. noun
: anticipated progressive growth in capital value and income
some investors prefer growth to immediate income