GROWTH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does growth mean? 

• GROWTH (noun)
  The noun GROWTH has 7 senses:

1. (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

2. a progression from simpler to more complex forms

3. a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important

4. vegetation that has grown

5. the gradual beginning or coming forth

6. (pathology) an abnormal proliferation of tissue (as in a tumor)

7. something grown or growing

  Familiarity information: GROWTH used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GROWTH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

development; growing; growth; maturation; ontogenesis; ontogeny

Context example:

he proposed an indicator of osseous development in children

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

biological process; organic process (a process occurring in living organisms)

Meronyms (parts of "growth"):

gastrulation (the process in which a gastrula develops from a blastula by the inward migration of cells)

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Domain member category:

isometry (the growth rates in different parts of a growing organism are the same)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "growth"):

juvenescence (the process of growing into a youth)

proliferation (growth by the rapid multiplication of parts)

life cycle (the course of developmental changes in an organism from fertilized zygote to maturity when another zygote can be produced)

masculinisation; masculinization; virilisation; virilization (the abnormal development of male sexual characteristics in a female (usually as the result of hormone therapies or adrenal malfunction))

morphogenesis (differentiation and growth of the structure of an organism (or a part of an organism))

myelinisation; myelinization (the development of a myelin sheath around a nerve fiber)

neurogenesis (the development of nerve tissues)

palingenesis; recapitulation (emergence during embryonic development of various characters or structures that appeared during the evolutionary history of the strain or species)

psychogenesis (a general term for the origin and development of almost any aspect of the mind)

psychogenesis (the development in the life of an individual of some disorder that is caused by psychological rather than physiological factors)

psychomotor development (progressive acquisition of skills involving both mental and motor activities)

psychosexual development ((psychoanalysis) the process during which personality and sexual behavior mature through a series of stages: first oral stage and then anal stage and then phallic stage and then latency stage and finally genital stage)

rooting (the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow)

suppression (the failure to develop some part or organ)

dentition; odontiasis; teething (the eruption through the gums of baby teeth)

teratogenesis (the development of defects in an embryo)

vegetation (the process of growth in plants)

infructescence (the fruiting stage of the inflorescence)

intussusception ((biology) growth in the surface area of a cell by the deposit of new particles between existing particles in the cell wall)

culture ((biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar))

amelogenesis (the developmental process of forming tooth enamel)

angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels)

apposition ((biology) growth in the thickness of a cell wall by the deposit of successive layers of material)

auxesis (growth from increase in cell size without cell division)

anthesis; blossoming; efflorescence; florescence; flowering; inflorescence (the time and process of budding and unfolding of blossoms)

caenogenesis; cainogenesis; cenogenesis; kainogenesis; kenogenesis (introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (such as the addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution))

cohesion ((botany) the process in some plants of parts growing together that are usually separate (such as petals))

cultivation (the process of fostering the growth of something)

cytogenesis; cytogeny (the origin and development and variation of cells)

foliation; leafing ((botany) the process of forming leaves)

fructification (the bearing of fruit)

gametogenesis (the development and maturation of sex cells through meiosis)

germination; sprouting (the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow)

habit (the general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal))

Derivation:

grow (increase in size by natural process)

grow (cause to grow or develop)

grow (develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A progression from simpler to more complex forms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Context example:

the growth of culture

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

development; evolution (a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage))

Derivation:

grow (develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

growth; increase; increment

Context example:

the growth of population

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

physical process; process (a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "growth"):

accession (a process of increasing by addition (as to a collection or group))

broadening; widening (an increase in width)

relaxation ((physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers)

pullulation (a rapid and abundant increase)

proliferation (a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons))

population growth (increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state)

multiplication (a multiplicative increase)

accretion ((astronomy) the formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases)

accretion ((biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles)

accretion ((geology) an increase in land resulting from alluvial deposits or waterborne sediment)

accretion; accumulation (an increase by natural growth or addition)

Derivation:

grow (become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Vegetation that has grown

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Context example:

the only growth was some salt grass

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

botany; flora; vegetation (all the plant life in a particular region or period)

Derivation:

grow (cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The gradual beginning or coming forth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

emergence; growth; outgrowth

Context example:

figurines presage the emergence of sculpture in Greece

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

beginning (the event consisting of the start of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "growth"):

rise (a growth in strength or number or importance)

Derivation:

grow (pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become)

grow (come into existence; take on form or shape)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(pathology) an abnormal proliferation of tissue (as in a tumor)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

illness; malady; sickness; unwellness (impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism)

Domain category:

pathology (the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "growth"):

excrescence ((pathology) an abnormal outgrowth or enlargement of some part of the body)

exostosis (a benign outgrowth from a bone (usually covered with cartilage))

polyp; polypus (a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane)

peduncle (the thin process of tissue that attaches a polyp to the body)

neoplasm; tumor; tumour (an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose)

hamartoma (a focal growth that resembles a neoplasm but results from faulty development in an organ)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Something grown or growing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Context example:

a growth of hair

Hypernyms ("growth" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "growth"):

ingrowth (something that grows inward)

 Context examples 

It affected the structure and function of the placenta more markedly for male fetuses, reducing its ability to support growth of the fetus.

(Placenta changes could mean male offspring of older mums more likely to develop heart problems in later life, University of Cambridge)

As a result, this may relieve symptoms associated with prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer, since testosterone is required to sustain prostate growth.

(Abarelix, NCI Thesaurus)

Abegrin binds to a protein on the surface of blood vessels and may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.

(Abegrin, NCI Dictionary)

A laboratory test result which indicates abnormal levels of growth hormone in a biologic specimen.

(Abnormal Growth Hormone, NCI Thesaurus)

This may stop the growth of cancer cells that need androgens to grow.

(Abiraterone acetate, NCI Dictionary)

This allele, which encodes abl interactor 1 protein, is involved in both cellular growth regulation and cytoskeletal organization.

(ABI1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

World population growth and lifestyle are the main causes of the increase in the volume of wastewater.

(Scientists validate a new technology that transforms sewage sludge into fertilizer more efficiently, University of Granada)

They collected soil samples, enveloped trees in belts to measure growth on a fine scale and planted sensors that continue to collect data on soil moisture and temperature, which varies widely in forests.

(From tropical to boreal ecosystems, temperature drives functioning, National Science Foundation)

I feel you will find some of your greatest personal growth through the new contacts, acquaintances, and friendships you form now.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The top-of-the-line Note 7 was crucial to Samsung's growth plans this year, with the company struggling to boost sales, squeezed by Apple in the high-end sector and Chinese rivals in the low-end.

(Samsung Ends Production of Problem-Plagued Galaxy Note 7, Voanews)