development

(noun) act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining. Examples: "He congratulated them on their development of a plan to meet the emergency." "They funded research and development."

(noun) a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage). Synonyms: evolution. Examples: "The development of his ideas took many years." "The evolution of greek civilization." "The slow development of her skill as a writer."

(noun) (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. Synonyms: growth, growing, maturation, ontogeny, ontogenesis. Example: "He proposed an indicator of osseous development in children."

(noun) a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation. Examples: "Recent developments in iraq." "What a revolting development!."

(noun) the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful. Synonyms: exploitation. Examples: "The development of alaskan resources." "The exploitation of copper deposits."

(noun) a district that has been developed to serve some purpose. Example: "Such land is practical for small park developments."

(noun) a state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess). Examples: "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."

(noun) processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible. Synonyms: developing. Example: "The development and printing of his pictures took only two hours."

(noun) (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated.