growth

Universal Words noun 1 [U] (of people, animals or plants) the process of growing physically, mentally or emotionally: Lack of water will stunt the plant's growth. * Remove dead leaves to encourage new growth. * a concern with personal (= mental and emotional) growth and development * growth hormones (= designed to make sb/sth grow faster) 2 [U] ~ (in / of sth) an increase in the size, amount or degree of sth: population growth * the rapid growth in violent crime * His book describes the growth of nationalism in Germany before the Second World War. 3 [U] an increase in economic activity: a disappointing year of little growth in Britain and America * policies aimed at sustaining economic growth * an annual growth rate of 10% * a growth area / industry 4 [C] a lump caused by a disease that forms on or inside a person, an animal or a plant: a malignant / cancerous growth 5 [U,C] something that has grown: The forest's dense growth provides nesting places for a wide variety of birds. * several days' growth of beard * Prune the shrub heavily now and fresh green growths should appear in March and April.