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well-developed

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅vel⋅op

[di-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, 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


de⋅vel⋅op⋅a⋅ble, adjective
de⋅vel⋅op⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

develop 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·vel·op
Pronunciation: di-'vel-&p
Function: transitive verb
1 a : to cause or undergo the growth, strengthening, orenlargement of <developed their muscles by weight lifting> b : to cause to grow and differentiate along lines natural to its kind developed into the adult plant or animal>
2 : to have (something) unfold or differentiate within one —used especially of diseases and abnormalities developed tuberculosis> develop intransitive senses
1 : to go through a process of natural growth, differentiation, or evolution bysuccessive stages develops normally> develops into a well-formed human being>
2 : to acquire secondary sexcharacteristics developing rapidly for a girl of 12>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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