The word "grown" is spelled with the letters "g-r-o-w-n" and is pronounced as /ɡroʊn/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "ow" in the word is pronounced as a diphthong, which means two vowel sounds are pronounced together. In this case, it's the "o" sound as in "go" and the "w" sound as in "we". The letter "n" at the end of the word makes a nasal sound by closing off the air in the mouth and letting it escape through the nose.
Grown, when used as an adjective, refers to being fully matured or developed, especially in the context of living organisms, plants, or animals. It implies that the subject has undergone the natural process of growth and has reached a stage of full adulthood or ripeness.
In the botanical sense, grown describes plants that have reached their full size, have developed their leaves, flowers, or fruit, and have completed their life cycle. It indicates that the plant has achieved its maximum potential in terms of physical dimensions, vitality, and reproductive capacity.
When applied to animals, grown indicates that they have reached their full size, physical strength, and sexual maturity. It suggests that they are no longer considered infants or juveniles but are functioning as fully developed and independent individuals within their species.
Furthermore, the term grown can be used figuratively to denote maturity or advancement in other contexts. For example, a grown person is often associated with having the emotional, mental, or intellectual development necessary to handle adult responsibilities. In this sense, grown implies having the ability to make informed decisions, exhibit self-control, and demonstrate a sense of maturity. Similarly, when referring to a grown-up society or organization, it suggests a level of sophistication, progress, and development that denotes an advanced state.
Overall, grown offers a descriptive term to convey the attainment of full physical or intellectual maturity, both in the realm of living organisms and in more abstract contexts.
Increased in growth; arrived at full growth or stature.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "grown" has its roots in the Old English word "grōwan", which means "to grow". This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*grōaną". From there, it is related to other Germanic languages such as Old Frisian "grōia", Old High German "gruoen", and Old Norse "grōa". The Proto-Indo-European root of this word is "*ghréh₁-", which means "to grow" or "to become green". The etymology of "grown" ultimately traces back to this ancient root.