Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process of growing, progressing, or becoming more advanced: "development" refers to the gradual growth or advancement of something, such as a skill, idea, or economy.
   • A new event or piece of news that changes a situation: "development" can also mean a recent occurrence or fact that affects the current state of affairs.
   • The process of creating or improving something: This meaning refers to the act of making something more effective, profitable, or usable.
   • An area of land with new buildings: "development" can denote a piece of land that has been built upon for residential or commercial purposes.
   • (Specialized) The process of treating photographic film to make an image visible: In photography, "development" is the chemical process that makes a latent image visible on film or paper.
   • (Specialized) The section in a musical composition where themes are elaborated: In music, particularly sonata form, the "development" is the section where musical ideas are explored and expanded.

Examples of Usage

• General Process:
  • The rapid development of technology has changed our lives.
  • Parents are interested in their child's emotional development.
• New Event:
  • There has been an important new development in the case.
  • We are waiting for further developments before making a decision.
• Act of Creating/Improving:
  • The company invested heavily in research and development.
  • Sustainable development is crucial for protecting the environment.
• Area of Land:
  • They live in a new housing development on the edge of town.
• Specialized (Photography):
  • The development of the film must be done in a darkroom.
• Specialized (Music):
  • The development section of the sonata was complex and dramatic.

Advanced Usage

• "In development": currently being created or worked on.
  • The new software is still in development and will be released next year.
• "Development of thought": the progression or evolution of ideas.
  • The book traces the development of philosophical thought in the 19th century.

Variants and Related Words

• Develop (verb): to grow, progress, or cause something to grow.
  • She developed a strong interest in history.
• Developer (noun):
  • A person or company that creates new products, especially software.

    • He is a software developer.
  • A person or company that builds houses or other buildings on land.

    • The land was sold to a property developer.
• Developmental (adjective): related to the growth or development of someone or something.
  • The toy is designed to support a baby's developmental needs.

Synonyms

• Growth: the process of increasing in size or maturity.
• Advancement: the process of promoting a cause or making progress.
• Evolution: the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.
• Progress: forward or onward movement toward a destination or goal.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• To develop into: to grow or change into something.
  • The small startup developed into a major corporation.
• To develop from: to originate or grow out of something.
  • This theory developed from years of research.

Related Idioms

• A sign of the times: a recent development that is characteristic of the current period (often used similarly to a new "development").
  • The rise of remote work is a sign of the times.
• A work in progress: something that is still being developed or improved.
  • My painting is still a work in progress.

Noun

1. (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated
2. processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible
   • the development and printing of his pictures took only two hours
3. a state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess)
   • 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
4. a district that has been developed to serve some purpose
   • such land is practical for small park developments
5. the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful
   • the development of Alaskan resources
   • the exploitation of copper deposits
6. a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation
   • recent developments in Iraq
   • what a revolting development!
7. (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
   • he proposed an indicator of osseous development in children
8. a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)
   • the development of his ideas took many years
   • the evolution of Greek civilization
   • the slow development of her skill as a writer
9. act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
   • he congratulated them on their development of a plan to meet the emergency
   • they funded research and development