The spelling of the phrase "full grown" is a bit tricky, as the "ll" sound is not pronounced the way it looks. Instead of saying "ful-l," the "ll" is pronounced like a single "l." This can be seen in the IPA phonetic transcription, which is /fʊl ɡroʊn/. The first syllable, "ful," is pronounced with a short "u" sound, while the second syllable, "groan," is pronounced with a long "o" sound. So, the correct way to say "full grown" is like "ful groan."
Full-grown is an adjective that describes an organism, typically an animal or a plant, which has fully developed and reached its maximum size, maturity, and potential. It implies that the organism has reached its adult stage or final form, indicating the completion of its growth cycle.
When referring to animals, being full-grown often signifies their transition from infancy or adolescence into adulthood. At this stage, their growth rate has ceased, and they have acquired all their physical and sexual characteristics. It suggests that the animal has reached its adult size, strength, and reproductive capacity. Likewise, when referring to plants, full-grown implies that the plant has reached its final size and has fully developed leaves, stems, flowers, or fruits, depending on the species.
The term "full-grown" can also be applied metaphorically to describe human beings, particularly teenagers or young adults, who have achieved physical and emotional maturity. It signifies their transition into adulthood, where they have become fully developed in terms of their physical appearance, cognitive abilities, emotional stability, and self-sufficiency.
In conclusion, full-grown refers to the state of an organism, whether animal, plant, or human, whereby it has completed its growth and achieved its maximum size, form, and maturity. It suggests a stage of development where all physical and reproductive attributes are fully established.
The etymology of the word "full grown" can be traced back to Middle English and Old English.
The word "full" in this context means "complete" or "entire". It comes from the Old English word "fūll" which has the same meaning. This word can be traced back to Proto-Germanic "fullaz" and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root "pel" meaning "to fill".
The word "grown" comes from the Old English word "grōwan" which means "to grow" or "to increase". It can be traced back to Proto-Germanic "grōaną" which has the same meaning. This word also derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "ghre" meaning "to grow" or "to become green".