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development

n.
US //dɪˈvɛɫəpmənt// UK //dɪvˈɛləpmənt// de·vel·op·ment
  1. 1 growth and progress (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the process of growing, changing, or becoming more advanced.

    the systematic process of growth, advancement, or evolution through successive stages.

    Example

    The city has seen rapid economic development over the last ten years.

    Example

    Sustainable development requires a delicate balance between industrial expansion and the preservation of natural resources for future generations.
  2. 2 a new event (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a new situation or event that changes how things are going.

    a significant new event, occurrence, or change in a situation.

    Example

    There have been some exciting new developments in the police investigation.

    Example

    The latest developments in the peace talks suggest that both parties are finally willing to make significant concessions.
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  1. 3 real estate project (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    an area of land with new buildings or houses on it.

    a tract of land that has been built upon, specifically a residential or commercial complex.

    Example

    They are building a new housing development near the park.

    Example

    The luxury development features twenty-four detached villas, each designed to maximise the panoramic views of the coastline.
  2. 4 creating new products (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the work of making new ideas into real products or services.

    the practical application of research and new ideas to create or improve products and processes.

    Example

    She works in software development for a large tech company.

    Example

    The company invested millions into the research and development of more efficient battery technologies for electric vehicles.
  3. 5 biological growth (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the way a living thing grows and changes from a simple to a complex form.

    the process by which a multicellular organism or part of an organism is produced through cell addition and differentiation.

    Example

    The doctor monitored the baby's physical development during the first year.

    Example

    The study examines the embryonic development of certain amphibians to understand how environmental toxins affect cellular growth.
  4. 6 photography (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the chemical process used to make images appear on photographic film.

    the chemical processing of photographic film or paper to render latent images visible.

    Example

    The development of the film took about an hour in the darkroom.

    Example

    Traditional film development requires precise temperature control of the chemical baths to ensure consistent contrast and grain structure.
  5. 7 music (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Music

    the middle part of a piece of music where the main tunes are changed and played with.

    the central section of a movement in sonata form where thematic material is transformed and restated in various keys.

    Example

    The development section of the symphony was very dramatic and loud.

    Example

    In the development, the composer fragments the primary theme, weaving it through a series of rapid harmonic shifts before the final recapitulation.
Origin

From French développement, from Old French desvelopemens (“unrolling”). By surface analysis, develop + -ment. First attested in 1756.

Word family

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