develop

Universal Words verb grow bigger / stronger 1 ~ (sth) (from sth) (into sth) to gradually grow or become bigger, more advanced, stronger, etc.; to make sth do this: [V] The child is developing normally. * The place has rapidly developed from a small fishing community into a thriving tourist resort. * [VN] She developed the company from nothing. new idea / product 2 [VN] to think of or produce a new idea, product, etc. and make it successful: The company develops and markets new software. * A new type of painkilling drug has recently been developed. disease / problem 3 to begin to have sth such as a disease or a problem; to start to affect sb/sth: [VN] Her son developed asthma when he was two. * The car developed engine trouble and we had to stop. [also V] become serious / important 4 [V] to start to happen and then become more serious or important: A crisis was rapidly developing in the Gulf. become better 5 to start to have a skill, ability, quality, etc. that becomes better and stronger; to become better and stronger: [VN] He's developed a real flair for management. * [V] Their relationship has developed over a number of years. build houses 6 [VN] to build new houses, factories, etc. on an area of land, especially land that was not being used effectively before: The site is being developed by a French company. idea / story 7 [VN] to make an idea, a story, etc. clearer by explaining it further: She develops the theme more fully in her later books. photographs 8 [VN] to treat photographic film with chemicals so that the pictures can be seen: I had the film developed yesterday.