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Webster 1913 Edition

Develop

De-vel′op

(dē̍-vĕl′ŏp)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Developed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Developing
.]
[F.
déveloper
;
dé-
(L.
dis-
) + OF.
voluper
,
voleper
, to envelop, perh. from L.
volup
agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig., to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf.
Voluptuous
); or. perh. fr. a derivative of
volvere
,
volutum
, to roll (cf.
Devolve
). Cf.
Envelop
.]
[Written also
develope
.]
1.
To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose; to produce or give forth;
as, to
develop
theories; a motor that
develops
100 horse power.
These serve to
develop
its tenets.
Milner.
The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and
developing
the line of the enemy.
The Century.
2.
To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring through a succession of states or stages, each of which is preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of being;
as, sunshine and rain
develop
the bud into a flower; to
develop
the mind.
The sound
developed
itself into a real compound.
J. Peile.
All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully
developed
.
Owen.
3.
To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of.
We must
develop
our own resources to the utmost.
Jowett (Thucyd).
4.
(Math.)
To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.
5.
(Photog.)
To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view.
Syn. – To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.

De-vel′op

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more highly organized state; to advance from a simpler form of existence to one more complex either in structure or function;
as, a blossom
develops
from a bud; the seed
develops
into a plant; the embryo
develops
into a well-formed animal; the mind
develops
year by year.
Nor poets enough to understand
That life
develops
from within.
Mrs. Browning.
2.
To become apparent gradually;
as, a picture on sensitive paper
develops
on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators
develop
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Develop

DEVELOP

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To uncover; to unfold; to lay open; to disclose or make known something concealed or withheld from notice.
The General began to develop the plan of his operations.
These serve to develop its tenets.
2.
To unravel; to unfold what is intricate; as, to develop a plot.

Definition 2024

develop

develop

English

Alternative forms

Verb

develop ‎(third-person singular simple present develops, present participle developing, simple past and past participle developed or developt)

  1. (intransitive) To change with a specific direction, progress.
    Let's see how things develop and then make our decision.‎
  2. (transitive, intransitive) To progress through a sequence of stages.
    Isabel developed from a tropical depression to a tropical storm to a hurricane.   An embryo develops into a fetus and then into an infant.‎
    • Owen
      All insects […] acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed.
  3. (transitive) To advance; to further; to promote the growth of.
    • Jowett (Thucyd)
      We must develop our own resources to the utmost.
  4. (transitive) To create.
    • 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:
      Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. […] A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale.
    I need to develop a plan for the next three weeks.‎
  5. (transitive) To bring out images latent in photographic film.
    Please develop this roll of film.‎
  6. (transitive) To acquire something usually over a period of time.
    I have been in England enough to develop a British accent.   You will develop calluses if you play the cello.   She developed bad eating habits.‎
  7. (chess, transitive) To place one's pieces actively.
    I need to develop my white-square bishop.‎
  8. (snooker, pool) To cause a ball to become more open and available to be played on later. Usually by moving it away from the cushion, or by opening a pack.
  9. (mathematics) To change the form of (an algebraic expression, etc.) by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.

Usage notes

  • Objects: plan, software, program, product, story, idea.

Related terms

Translations

Etymology

From French développer, from Middle French desveloper, from Old French desveloper, from des- + voloper, veloper, vloper ‎(“to wrap, wrap up”) (compare Italian -viluppare, Old Italian alternate form goluppare ‎(“to wrap”)) from Vulgar Latin base *vlopp-, *wlopp- "to wrap" ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wrappan-, *wlappan- ‎(“to wrap, roll up, turn, wind”), from Proto-Indo-European *werb- ‎(“to turn, bend”) . Akin to Middle English wlappen ‎(“to wrap, fold”) (Modern English lap "to wrap, involve, fold"), Middle English wrappen ‎(“to wrap”), Middle Dutch lappen ‎(“to wrap up, embrace”), Danish dialectal vravle ‎(“to wind, twist”), Middle Low German wrempen ‎(“to wrinkle, scrunch, distort”), Old English wearp ‎(“warp”). The word acquired its modern meaning from the 17th century belief that an egg contains the animal in miniature and matures by growing larger and shedding its envelopes.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɪˈvɛləp/
  • Rhymes: -ɛləp

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