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Grow vs Ripen - What's the difference?

grow | ripen | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between grow and ripen

is that grow is to appear or sprout while ripen is to approach or come to perfection.

In transitive terms the difference between grow and ripen

is that grow is to cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants while ripen is to mature; to fit or prepare; to bring to perfection; as, to ripen the judgment.

As verbs the difference between grow and ripen

is that grow is to become bigger while ripen is to grow ripe; to become mature, as in botany: grain, fruit, flowers, and the like.

grow

English

Verb

  • (ergative) To become bigger.
  • Children grow quickly.
  • To appear or sprout.
  • Flowers grew on the trees as summer approached.
    A long tail began to grow from his backside.
  • To cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=March 01 , author=Peter Roff , title=Another Foolish Move By Congress , work=Fox News citation , passage=The Bush administration – which sought to grow the number of fisheries managed under a program known as “catch shares”... }}
    He grows peppers and squash each summer in his garden.
    Have you ever grown your hair before?
  • (copulative) To assume a condition or quality over time.
  • The boy grew wise as he matured.
    The town grew smaller and smaller in the distance as we travelled.
    You have grown strong.
  • (obsolete) To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow .

    Usage notes

    * Growed is a slang or dialect inflection for the simple past and past participle.

    Antonyms

    * shrink

    Derived terms

    * grow a pair * growed * grower * grow house * growing pains * growing point * grown-up * grow on * grow op * grow out of * growth * grow up * outgrow * overgrow

    ripen

    English

    (Ripening)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to grow ripe; to become mature, as in botany: grain, fruit, flowers, and the like;
  • Grapes ripen in the sun.
  • * 1918 , (John Muir), Steep Trails Chapter XII
  • *:...the desert soil of the Great Basin is as rich in the elements that in rainy regions rise and ripen into food as that of any other State in the Union.
  • To approach or come to perfection.
  • To cause to mature; to make ripe; as, the warm days ripened the corn.
  • To mature; to fit or prepare; to bring to perfection; as, to ripen the judgment.
  • When faith and love, which parted from thee never, Had ripined thy iust soul to dwell with God. --Milton.

    Derived terms

    * ripening