3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Develop \De*vel"op\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Developed}; p. pr &
vb n. {Developing}.] [F. d['e]veloper; d['e]- (L. dis-) +
OF voluper, voleper to envelop, perh. from L. volup
agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig., to make agreeable
or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf.
{Voluptuous}); or perh. fr a derivative of volvere
volutum to roll (cf. {Devolve}). Cf {Envelop}.] [Written
also {develope}.]
1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to
lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or
known to disclose; to produce or give forth; as to
develop theories; a motor that develops 100 horse power.
These serve to develop its tenets. --Milner.
The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and
developing the line of the enemy. --The Century.
2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence to
bring through a succession of states or stages, each of
which is preparatory to the next to form or expand by a
process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an
embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of
being as sunshine and rain develop the bud into a
flower; to develop the mind.
The sound developed itself into a real compound.
--J. Peile.
All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before
the wings are fully developed. --Owen.
3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase;
to promote the growth of
We must develop our own resources to the utmost.
--Jowett
(Thucyd).
4. (Math.) To change the form of as of an algebraic
expression, by executing certain indicated operations
without changing the value.
5. (Photog.) To cause to become visible, as an invisible or
latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical
agents; to bring to view.
{To develop a curved surface on a plane} (Geom.), to produce
on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the
curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch
the plane.
Syn: To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open
disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Develop \De*vel"op\, v. i.
1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by
successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect
or more highly organized state; to advance from a simpler
form of existence to one more complex either in structure
or function; as a blossom develops from a bud; the seed
develops into a plant; the embryo develops into a
well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year.
Nor poets enough to understand That life develops
from within. --Mrs.
Browning.
2. To become apparent gradually; as a picture on sensitive
paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of
the conspirators develop.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
develop
v 1: make something new and usually improved, such as a
product;"Her company developed a new kind of building
material that withstands all kinds of weather"
2: work out as of a theory or an idea; "We have developed a
new theory of evolution" [syn: {evolve}]
3: gradually acquire new traits or characteristics: "Children
must develop a sense of right and wrong" [syn: {evolve}]
4: come to have of physical features and attributes; "He grew
a beard"; The patient developed abdominal pains"; I got
funny spots all over my body" [syn: {grow}, {produce}, {get},
{acquire}]
5: come into existence or develop: "A new religious movement
originated in that country" "a love that sprang up from
friendship," "the idea for the book grew out of a short
story" [syn: {originate}, {arise}, {rise}, {spring up}, {grow}]
6: change the use of and make available or usable; "develop
land"; "The country developed its natural resources"
7: elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses; "Could you develop
the ideas in your thesis" [syn: {explicate}, {formulate}]
8: prepare for a future task or career; "I am training young
minds"; "develop leaders" [syn: {train}, {prepare}, {educate}]
9: be gradually disclosed or unfolded; become manifest; "The
plot developed slowly"; "It develops thay neither one
knows the answer"
10: grow, progress, unfold, or evolve gradually through a
process of evolution, natural growth, or differentiation;
"A flower developed on the branch"; "The country
developed into a mighty superpower"
11: disclose or reveal (obsolete); "We must develop the enemy
soldiers"
12: make a country technologically advanced; "Many countries in
Asia are now highly developed"; "Viet Nam is modernizing
rapidly" [syn: {civilize}, {modernize}]
13: cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its
natural development; "The perfect climate here develops
the grain"; "He developed a new kind of apple" [syn: {make
grow}]
14: generate gradually; "We must develop more potential
customers"
15: grow emotionally or mature; "The child developed beautifully
in her new kindergarten" [syn: {grow}]
16: make visible by means of chemical solutions; of photographic
film; "Please develop this roll of film for me"
17: superimpose a three-dimensional surface on a plane without
stretching, in geometry
18: move one's chess pieces into strategically more advantageous
positions; "Spassky developed quickly"
19: move into a strategically more advantageous position, of a
chess piece; "develop the rook"
20: elaborate by the unfolding of a musical idea and by the
working out of the rhythmic and harmonic changes in the
theme
21: happen, as of an event; "Report the news as it develops"
[syn: {break}]
22: expand a function or expression in the form of a series, in
mathematics
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Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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