Nearby Words

develops

[dih-vel-uhp] Origin

de·vel·op

[dih-vel-uhp]
verb (used with object)
1.
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, especially one that is prismatic or cylindrical, onto another, usually planar, in such a way that the distances between points remain the same.
EXPAND
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, especially 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.
COLLAPSE
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.

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Develops is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

Origin:
1585–95; < Middle French développer, Old French desveloper, equivalent to des- dis-1 + voloper to wrap up; see envelop

de·vel·op·a·ble, adjective
de·vel·op·a·bil·i·ty, noun
half-de·vel·oped, adjective
hy·per·de·vel·oped, adjective
mis·de·vel·op, verb
EXPAND
non·de·vel·op·a·ble, adjective
pre·de·vel·op, verb
un·de·vel·op·a·ble, adjective
well-de·vel·oped, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To develops
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

develop
1650s, "unroll, unfold," from Fr. developper, replacing English disvelop (1590s, from M.Fr. desveloper), both from O.Fr. desveloper, from des- "undo" + veloper "wrap up," of uncertain origin, possibly Celtic or Germanic. Modern figurative use is 18c. The photographic sense is from 1845; the real estate
EXPAND
sense is from 1890.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

develop de·vel·op (dĭ-věl'əp)
v. de·vel·oped, de·vel·op·ing, de·vel·ops

  1. To progress from earlier to later stages of a life cycle.

  2. To progress from earlier to later or from simpler to more complex stages of evolution.

  3. To aid in the growth of; strengthen.

  4. To grow by degrees into a more advanced or mature state.

  5. To become affected with a disease; contract.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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