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Strengthen vs Develop - What's the difference?

strengthen | develop |

In transitive terms the difference between strengthen and develop

is that strengthen is to augment; to improve; to intensify while develop is to acquire something usually over a period of time.

In intransitive terms the difference between strengthen and develop

is that strengthen is to grow strong or stronger while develop is to change with a specific direction, progress.

strengthen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (lb) To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify; to reinforce.
  • :
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,/ With powerful policy strengthen themselves.
  • *1851 , Anonymous, Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog
  • *:A little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years.
  • (lb) To animate; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to fix in resolution; to hearten.
  • *(Bible), (w) iii. 28
  • *:Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.
  • *
  • *:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.."
  • (lb) To augment; to improve; to intensify.
  • (lb) To grow strong or stronger.
  • Antonyms

    * atrophy

    Derived terms

    * strengthener

    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.