The Collaborative International Dictionary
Develop \De*vel"op\ (d[-e]*v[e^]l"[o^]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed; p. pr. & vb. n. Developing.] [F. d['e]veloper; d['e]- (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.]
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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. -
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. -
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). (Math.) To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.
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(Photog.) To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view.
To develop a curved surface on a plane (Geom.), to produce on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch the plane.
Syn: To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose; exhibit; unravel; disentangle.