act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining; "he congratulated them on their development of a plan to meet the emergency"; "they funded research and development"
(music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated
a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation; "recent developments in Iraq"; "what a revolting development!"
a district that has been developed to serve some purpose; "such land is practical for small park developments"
processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible; "the development and printing of his pictures took only two hours"
a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage); "the development of his ideas took many years"; "the evolution of Greek civilization"; "the slow development of her skill as a writer"
a state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess); "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"
a disposition to be lenient in judging others; "softness is not something permitted of good leaders"
the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
a visual property that is subdued and free from brilliance or glare; "the softness of the morning sky"
a sound property that is free from loudness or stridency; "and in softness almost beyond hearing"
a state of declining financial condition; "orders have recently picked up after a period of extreme softness"; "he attributes the disappointing results to softness in the economy"
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal); "they concocted a plot to discredit the governor"; "I saw through his little game from the start"
the story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.; "the characters were well drawn but the plot was banal"
a chart or map showing the movements or progress of an object
a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation; "a bean plot"; "a cabbage patch"; "a briar patch"
plan secretly, usually something illegal; "They plotted the overthrow of the government"