to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state: to develop natural resources; to develop one's musical talent.
2.
to cause to grow or expand: to develop one's muscles.
3.
to elaborate or expand in detail: to develop a theory.
4.
to bring into being or activity; generate; evolve.
5.
Drafting. to transfer the details of (a more or less two-dimensional design, pattern, or the like) from one surface, esp. one that is prismatic or cylindrical, onto another, usually planar, in such a way that the distances between points remain the same.
6.
Biology.
a.
to cause to go through the process of natural evolution from a previous and lower stage.
b.
to cause to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
7.
Mathematics. to express in an extended form, as in a series.
8.
Music. to unfold, by various technical means, the inherent possibilities of (a theme).
9.
Photography.
a.
to render visible (the latent image on an exposed film or the like).
b.
to treat (an exposed film or the like) with chemicals so as to render the latent image visible.
10.
Chess. to bring (a piece) into effective play, esp. during the initial phase of a game when pieces are moved from their original position on the board: He developed his rook by castling.
11.
Mining. to prepare (a new mine) for working by digging access openings and building necessary structures.
–verb (used without object)
12.
to grow into a more mature or advanced state; advance; expand: She is developing into a good reporter.
13.
to come gradually into existence or operation; be evolved.
14.
to be disclosed; become evident or manifest: The plot of the novel developed slowly.
15.
to undergo developing, as a photographic film.
16.
Biology.
a.
to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
b.
to progress from earlier to later stages of ontogeny or phylogeny.
c.
to reach sexual maturity.
[Origin: 1585–95; < MF développer, OF desveloper, equiv. to des-dis-1+ voloper to wrap up; see envelop]
1656, "unroll, unfold," from Fr. developper, replacing Eng. disvelop (1592, from M.Fr. desveloper), both from O.Fr. desveloper, from des- "undo" + veloper "wrap up," of uncertain origin, possibly Celt. or Gmc. Modern figurative use is 18c. The photographic sense is from 1845; the real estate sense is from 1890. Development first attested 1756.
make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation; "Her company developed a new kind of building material that withstands all kinds of weather"; "They developed a new technique"
2.
work out; "We have developed a new theory of evolution" [syn: evolve]
3.
gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position"; "develop a passion for painting"
4.
come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts" [syn: grow]
5.
come into existence; take on form or shape; "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"; "An interesting phenomenon uprose" [syn: originate]
6.
change the use of and make available or usable; "develop land"; "The country developed its natural resources"; "The remote areas of the country were gradually built up" [syn: build up]
7.
elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses; "Could you develop the ideas in your thesis" [syn: explicate]
8.
create by training and teaching; "The old master is training world-class violinists"; "we develop the leaders for the future" [syn: train]
9.
be gradually disclosed or unfolded; become manifest; "The plot developed slowly";
10.
grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"
11.
become technologically advanced; "Many countries in Asia are now developing at a very fast pace"; "Viet Nam is modernizing rapidly" [syn: modernize]
12.
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"
13.
generate gradually; "We must develop more potential customers"; "develop a market for the new mobile phone"
14.
grow emotionally or mature; "The child developed beautifully in her new kindergarten"; "When he spent a summer at camp, the boy grew noticeably and no longer showed some of his old adolescent behavior"
15.
make visible by means of chemical solutions; "Please develop this roll of film for me"
16.
superimpose a three-dimensional surface on a plane without stretching, in geometry
17.
move one's pieces into strategically more advantageous positions; "Spassky developed quickly"
18.
move into a strategically more advantageous position; "develop the rook"
19.
elaborate by the unfolding of a musical idea and by the working out of the rhythmic and harmonic changes in the theme; "develop the melody and change the key"
20.
happen; "Report the news as it develops"; "These political movements recrudesce from time to time" [syn: break]
21.
expand in the form of a series; "Develop the function in the following form"
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.
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.
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