growth
    n 1: (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" [syn: growth, growing,
         maturation, development, ontogeny, ontogenesis]
         [ant: nondevelopment]
    2: a progression from simpler to more complex forms; "the growth
       of culture"
    3: a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or
       more important; "the increase in unemployment"; "the growth
       of population" [syn: increase, increment, growth] [ant:
       decrease, decrement]
    4: vegetation that has grown; "a growth of trees"; "the only
       growth was some salt grass"
    5: the gradual beginning or coming forth; "figurines presage the
       emergence of sculpture in Greece" [syn: emergence,
       outgrowth, growth]
    6: (pathology) an abnormal proliferation of tissue (as in a
       tumor)
    7: something grown or growing; "a growth of hair"

Growth \Growth\ (gr[=o]th), n. [Icel. gr[=o][eth]r,
   gr[=o][eth]i. See Grow.]
   1. The process of growing; the gradual increase of an animal
      or a vegetable body; the development from a seed, germ, or
      root, to full size or maturity; increase in size, number,
      frequency, strength, etc.; augmentation; advancement;
      production; prevalence or influence; as, the growth of
      trade; the growth of power; the growth of intemperance.
      Idle weeds are fast in growth. --Shak.
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   2. That which has grown or is growing; anything produced;
      product; consequence; effect; result.
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            Nature multiplies her fertile growth. --Milton.
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