development

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noun de·vel·op·ment \di-ˈve-ləp-mənt, dē-\

: the act or process of growing or causing something to grow or become larger or more advanced

: the act or process of creating something over a period of time

: the state of being created or made more advanced

Full Definition of DEVELOPMENT

1

:  the act, process, or result of developing <development of new ideas> <an interesting development>

2

:  the state of being developed <a project in development>

3

:  a developed tract of land; especially :  one with houses built on it

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Examples of DEVELOPMENT

1. Good nutrition is important for proper muscle development.
2. The company offers many opportunities for professional development.
3. The software is still in the early stages of development.
4. I try to keep up with the latest developments in computer technology.
5. Have there been any new developments in the case?

First Known Use of DEVELOPMENT

1756

Related to DEVELOPMENT

Synonyms

elaboration, evolution, expansion, growth, progress, progression

Antonyms

regress, regression, retrogression, reversion

Related Words

advancement, betterment, improvement, perfection, refinement; incubation, maturation, maturing, ripening; blossoming, flourishing, flowering; addition, augmentation, enhancement, supplementation; emergence, evolvement, metamorphosis

Near Antonyms

backslide, lapse, relapse; decadence, decay, decaying, declension, declination, decline, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, descent, deterioration, devaluation, downfall, downgrade, ebbing, falling, weakening

Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition

development

noun de·vel·op·ment \di-ˈvel-əp-mənt\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DEVELOPMENT

1

:  the action or process of developing: as a :  the process of growth and differentiation by which the potentialities of a zygote, spore, or embryo are realized b :  the gradual advance through evolutionary stages :  evolution

2

:  the state of being developed <the great muscular development of weight lifters>

—de·vel·op·men·tal \-ˌvel-əp-ˈment-^əl\ adjective

—de·vel·op·men·tal·ly \-ē\ adverb