Definition

Verb: 1. To cause to grow and develop: This refers to the action of fostering or promoting the natural growth, increase, or maturation of something, often by providing suitable conditions or care.

Usage and Examples

The verb "make grow" is used to describe the act of actively causing something to increase in size, quantity, quality, or maturity.

• Basic Usage:
  • Farmers use fertilizer to make their crops grow faster.
  • Reading to children makes their vocabulary grow.
  • Regular exercise makes muscles grow.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• In a Developmental or Refining Context: While "make grow" often refers to physical growth, it can also apply to abstract development, such as skills, ideas, or economies. In such contexts, synonyms like "develop," "cultivate," or "foster" are more common in formal English.
  • Good mentorship makes a young professional's confidence grow.
  • Investment in infrastructure makes the local economy grow.

Variants and Related Words

• Grow (verb): To increase in size or develop naturally. "Make grow" is the causative form of this verb.
  • Plants grow in sunlight. (They do it naturally)
  • Sunlight makes plants grow. (Sunlight causes it)
• Growth (noun): The process of growing or developing.
  • The growth of the company was impressive.
• Grower (noun): A person or thing that grows something.
  • He is a tomato grower.

Synonyms

• Cultivate: To prepare and use land for crops; to try to acquire or develop a quality or skill.
• Nurture: To care for and encourage the growth or development of.
• Develop: To grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
• Foster: To encourage the development of something, especially something desirable.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Grow into: To develop into or become large enough for something.
  • The small startup grew into a multinational corporation.
• Grow out of: To become too large or mature for something.
  • He grew out of his childhood fears.
• Grow up: To mature and become an adult.
  • What do you want to be when you grow up?

Notes on Usage

"Make grow" is a clear and grammatically correct causative construction. However, in many contexts, especially more formal or specific ones, a single verb is often preferred (e.g., cultivate crops, develop an idea, foster growth). The phrase "make grow" is perfectly standard and understandable for describing the general action of causing growth.

Verb

1. cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its natural development
   • The perfect climate here develops the grain
   • He developed a new kind of apple