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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | growan |
Related topics:
1
increase
a) [intransitive] to increase in amount, size, number, or strength [≠ shrink]: 
Support for Mr Thompson is growing.Fears are growing for the crew's safety. There is growing concern about climate change. my growing interest in China
Support for Mr Thompson is growing.Fears are growing for the crew's safety.There is growing concern about climate change.my growing interest in Chinab) [transitive] to make a business or part of a business bigger and more successful : We want to grow the export side of the business.
We want to grow the export side of the business.2 to become bigger, taller etc over a period of time in the process of becoming an adult [≠ shrink]: You've really grown since I last saw you.
person/animal
[intransitive]You've really grown since I last saw you.3
plants
a) [intransitive] if plants grow, they exist and develop in a natural way : a tree which will grow well in most types of soil
a tree which will grow well in most types of soilb) [transitive] to make plants or crops develop and produce fruit or flowers [↪ raise]: Many families own plots of land to grow food. Britain grows 6,000,000 tonnes of potatoes a year.
Many families own plots of land to grow food.Britain grows 6,000,000 tonnes of potatoes a year.4
hair/nails
a) [transitive] if you grow your hair or nails, you do not cut them :
b) [intransitive] when hair or nails grow, they become longer
5
become
a) [I always + adj] to change and become different quite slowly : The sound was growing louder. Her tastes have changed as she's grown older. Donna has grown tired of being a model. Gradually, Fiona's eyes grew used to the darkness (=she gradually became able to see a little better).
The sound was growing louder.Her tastes have changed as she's grown older.Donna has grown tired of being a model.Gradually, Fiona's eyes grew used to the darkness (=she gradually became able to see a little better).b) [intransitive] to gradually change your opinions and have a feeling that you did not have before
grow to like/hate/respect etc After a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox. the city he had grown to love
➔ see usage note becomeAfter a while the kids grew to like Mr Cox.the city he had grown to love6 to gradually become better, bigger etc
improve
[intransitive]grow apart
phrasal verbThe couple had been growing apart for years.grow into somebody/something
phrasal verb1 to develop over time and become a particular kind of person or thing : Sue grew into a lovely young woman. The two-part show has grown into a full-fledged series.
Sue grew into a lovely young woman.The two-part show has grown into a full-fledged series.2 to gradually learn how to do a job or deal with a situation successfully : She will grow into her new role over the next few months.
She will grow into her new role over the next few months.3 if a child grows into clothes, he or she becomes big enough to wear them
grow on somebody
phrasal verbI hated his music at first, but it grows on you.grow out
phrasal verbgrow out of something
phrasal verb1 if a child grows out of clothes, he or she becomes too big to wear them [= outgrow]
2 if someone grows out of something, they stop doing it as they get older [= outgrow]: Mike finally seems to be growing out of his rebelliousness.
Mike finally seems to be growing out of his rebelliousness.3 to develop or happen as a result of something else that happened or existed : His art grew out of his love of nature. legislation which grew out of concern over the increasing crime rate
His art grew out of his love of nature.legislation which grew out of concern over the increasing crime rategrow up
phrasal verb1 to develop from being a child to being an adult : What do you want to be when you grow up? I grew up in Chicago.
What do you want to be when you grow up?I grew up in Chicago.3 to start to exist or develop gradually : Trading settlements grew up by the river.
Trading settlements grew up by the river.WORD CHOICE: 
WORD CHOICE:
become, get, go, turn, grow, comebecome can be followed by an adjective or noun, not a verb • Her husband became jealous. • We soon became friends.The following words are used with an adjective instead of become, in certain cases:get is very often used instead of become, and is more usual in spoken English • I was getting hungry. • Things got worse and worse.go is usedto say that something changes colour • The sky went pink.to say that someone feels a change in their body • My fingers have gone numb. with blind and deaf • He went blind. with mad, insane, crazy etc • The crowd went wild.turn is used especially to say that something changes colour • The liquid turned green. • His face turned pale.grow can be used in fairly literary written English to say that something changes gradually • It grew dark as we walked.with a to-infinitive, to say that someone gradually starts doing something • We grew to love each other.come is usedwith adjectives like apart, undone, and unstuck • Your shoelace has come undone. • A few pages came loose. with true • Her prediction came true. with a to-infinitive to say that someone starts doing something • I eventually came to realize (NOT became to realize) I was wrong. ➔ See also become
WORD CHOICE: become, get, go, turn, grow, comebecome can be followed by an adjective or noun, not a verb • Her husband became jealous. • We soon became friends.The following words are used with an adjective instead of become, in certain cases:get is very often used instead of become, and is more usual in spoken English • I was getting hungry. • Things got worse and worse.go is usedto say that something changes colour • The sky went pink.to say that someone feels a change in their body • My fingers have gone numb. with blind and deaf • He went blind. with mad, insane, crazy etc • The crowd went wild.turn is used especially to say that something changes colour • The liquid turned green. • His face turned pale.grow can be used in fairly literary written English to say that something changes gradually • It grew dark as we walked.with a to-infinitive, to say that someone gradually starts doing something • We grew to love each other.come is usedwith adjectives like apart, undone, and unstuck • Your shoelace has come undone. • A few pages came loose. with true • Her prediction came true. with a to-infinitive to say that someone starts doing something • I eventually came to realize (NOT became to realize) I was wrong. ➔ See also become
