grow
UK[ɡrəʊ]US[ɡroʊ]
v
(of a living thing) to increase in size and develop physically over a period of time
v
(of a plant) to exist and develop in a particular place
v
to become larger in amount, number, or degree; to increase
v
to gradually become something
Etymology
The verb 'grow' originates from the Old English 'grōwan', meaning "to grow, increase, flourish." This, in turn, is derived from the Proto-Germanic 'grōaną', which carried the same sense. The Germanic root is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root 'ghreh₁-', meaning "to grow, become green," a root also connected to words for grass and green. The semantic journey is direct and vivid: from the fundamental concept of plants sprouting and becoming verdant, the meaning broadened to encompass any process of natural development, increase, or maturation in living beings, organizations, or abstract quantities.
Analysis
The word 'grow' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a single, indivisible lexical unit.
Examples
Children grow very quickly during their first few years.
This plant grows best in full sunlight.
The company aims to grow its market share by 20% this year.