development — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The process of developing; growth, directed change.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   conversionmetamorphosistransformation

   Examples

   The development of this story has been slow.

   More examples (1)

   Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.

2. The process by which a mature multicellular organism or part of an organism is produced by the addition of new cells.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The organism has reached a crucial stage in its development.

   More examples (1)

   Of more significance in the nature of branch development; in the Jubulaceae, as in the Porellaceae, branches are acroscopic and normally replace a ventral leaf lobe.

3. Something which has developed.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   Our news team brings you the latest developments.

   up-to-date with new developments in IT

4. A project consisting of one or more commercial or residential buildings.

   Usage

   • Countable

5. The building of such a project.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

6. The application of new ideas to practical problems (cf. research).

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Our development department has produced three new adhesives this year.

7. The active placement of the pieces, or the process of achieving it.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   White's development is good, but black's has been hampered by the pawn on e5.

8. The process by in which previous material is transformed and restated.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

9. The second section of a piece of music in sonata form, in which the original theme is revisited in altered and varying form.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

10. The expression of a function in the form of a series.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Uncountable

11. The processing of photographic film so as to bring out the images latent in it.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Uncountable

    Examples

    I sent the film to a specialist lab for development.

Noun

1. act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

   Broader terms

   improvement

   Examples

   he congratulated them on their development of a plan to meet the emergency

   they funded research and development

2. a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)

   Synonyms

   evolution

   Broader terms

   processphysical process

   Examples

   the development of his ideas took many years

   the evolution of Greek civilization

   More examples (1)

   the slow development of her skill as a writer

3. (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

   Synonyms

   growthgrowingmaturationontogenyontogenesis

   Antonyms

   nondevelopment

   Broader terms

   organic processbiological process

   Examples

   he proposed an indicator of osseous development in children

4. a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation

   Broader terms

   changealterationmodification

   Examples

   recent developments in Iraq

   what a revolting development!

5. the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful

   Synonyms

   exploitation

   Broader terms

   useusageutilizationutilisationemploymentexercise

   Examples

   the development of Alaskan resources

   the exploitation of copper deposits

6. a district that has been developed to serve some purpose

   Broader terms

   districtterritoryterritorial dominiondominion

   Examples

   such land is practical for small park developments

7. a state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess)

   Broader terms

   improvementmelioration

   Examples

   after he saw the latest development he changed his mind and became a supporter

   in chess your should take care of your development before moving your queen

8. processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible

   Synonyms

   developing

   Broader terms

   processing

   Examples

   the development and printing of his pictures took only two hours

9. (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated

   Broader terms

   sectionsubdivision