grow

Universal Words increase 1 ~ (in sth) to increase in size, number, strength or quality: [V] The company profits grew by 5% last year. * The family has grown in size recently. * She is growing in confidence all the time. * A growing number of people are going vegetarian. * There is growing opposition to the latest proposals. * Shortage of water is a growing problem. * The performance improved as their confidence grew. * [V-ADJ] The company is growing bigger all the time. of person / animal 2 to become bigger or taller and develop into an adult: [V] You've grown since the last time I saw you! * Nick's grown almost an inch in the last month. * The puppies grow quickly during the first six months. * A growing child needs plenty of sleep. * [V-ADJ] to grow bigger / taller of plant 3 to exist and develop in a particular place; to make plants grow: [V] The region is too dry for plants to grow. * These roses grow to a height of 6 feet. * Tomatoes grow best in direct sunlight. * [VN] I didn't know they grew rice in France. * I grew all these flowers from one packet of seeds. seealsoHOME-GROWN of hair / nails 4 to become longer; to allow sth to become longer by not cutting it: [V] I've decided to let my hair grow. * [VN] I've decided to grow my hair. * I didn't recognize him-he's grown a beard. become / begin 5 linking verb [V-ADJ] to begin to have a particular quality or feeling over a period of time: to grow old / bored / calm * As time went on he grew more and more impatient. * The skies grew dark and it began to rain. 6 [Vtoinf] to gradually begin to do sth: I'm sure you'll grow to like her in time. * He grew to understand her reasons for leaving. develop skills 7 [V] ~ (as sth) (of a person) to develop and improve particular qualities or skills: She continues to grow as an artist. * A secure background will help a child to grow emotionally. business 8 [VN] to increase the size, quality or number of sth: We are trying to grow the business. IDIOMS it / money doesn't grow on trees (spoken) used to tell sb not to use sth or spend money carelessly because you do not have a lot of it moreatGRASSn. PHRASALVERBS grow apart (from sb) to stop having a close relationship with sb over a period of time: As we got older we just grew apart. * Since moving to London, he's grown apart from many of his friends. grow away from sb [nopassive] to become less close to sb; to depend on sb or care for sb less: When she left school she grew away from her mother. grow back to begin growing again after being cut off or damaged: His eyebrows never grew back after the accident. grow into sth [nopassive] 1 to gradually develop into a particular type of person over a period of time: He's grown into a handsome young man. 2 (of a child) to grow big enough to fit into a piece of clothing that used to be too big: The dress is too long for her now but she'll grow into it. 3 to become more confident in a new job, etc. and learn to do it better: She's still growing into her new role as a mother. grow on sb [nopassive] if sb/sth grows on you, you start to like them or it more and more: The neighbourhood was beginning to grow on me. * This song is really growing on me. grow out (of a hairstyle, etc.) to disappear as your hair grows: I had a perm a year ago and it still hasn't grown out. grow sth<->out to allow your hair to grow in order to change the style: I've decided to grow my layers out. grow out of sth [nopassive] 1 (of a child) to become too big to fit into a piece of clothing SYNOUTGROW: He's already grown out of his school uniform. 2 to stop doing sth as you become older SYNOUTGROW: Most children suck their thumbs but they grow out of it. 3 to develop from sth: The idea for the book grew out of a visit to India. * The decision to introduce job sharing grew out of a general desire for flexible working hours. grow up 1 (of a person) to develop into an adult: She grew up (= spent her childhood) in Boston. * Their children have all grown up and left home now. * [+toinf] He grew up to become a famous pianist. relatednounGROWN-UP 2 used to tell sb to stop behaving in a silly way: Why don't you grow up? * It's time you grew up. 3 to develop gradually: A closeness grew up between the two girls.