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evolve

Syllabification: (e·volve)
Pronunciation: /iˈvälv/

Translate evolve | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of evolve

verb

  • 1develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form: [no object]:the company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer the Gothic style evolved steadily and naturally from the Romanesque [with object]:each school must evolve its own way of working
  • (with reference to an organism or biological feature) develop over successive generations, especially as a result of natural selection: [no object]:the populations are cut off from each other and evolve independently
  • 2 [with object] Chemistry give off (gas or heat).

Derivatives

evolvable

adjective

evolvement

noun

Origin:

early 17th century (in the general sense 'make more complex, develop'): from Latin evolvere, from e- (variant of ex-) 'out of' + volvere 'to roll'

evolve in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of evolve in the British & World English dictionary
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