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Develop vs Acquire - What's the difference?

develop | acquire | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between develop and acquire

is that develop is to acquire something usually over a period of time while acquire is to gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own, as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.

As verbs the difference between develop and acquire

is that develop is to change with a specific direction, progress while acquire is to get.

develop

English

(Development)

Alternative forms

* develope (obsolete)

Verb

  • To change with a specific direction, progress.
  • (ambitransitive) To progress through a sequence of stages.
  • * Owen
  • All insects acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed .
  • To advance; to further; to promote the growth of.
  • * Jowett (Thucyd)
  • We must develop our own resources to the utmost.
  • To create.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Catherine Clabby
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= Focus on Everything , passage=Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.
  • To bring out images latent in photographic film.
  • To acquire something usually over a period of time.
  • (chess) To place one's pieces actively.
  • (snooker, pool) To cause a ball to become more open and available to be played on later. Usually by moving it away from the cushion, or by opening a pack.
  • (math) To change the form of (an algebraic expression, etc.) by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.
  • Usage notes

    * Objects: plan, software, program, product, story, idea.

    acquire

    English

    Verb

    (acquir)
  • To get.
  • To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own, as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.
  • * (Isaac Barrow) (1630-1677)
  • No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step.
  • * (William Blackstone) (1723-1780)
  • Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor, acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), chapter=3/19/2, title= “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days
  • , passage=Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house?; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something?; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.}}

    Synonyms

    * attain, earn, gain, obtain, procure, secure, win

    Derived terms

    * acquired taste