▪ I. grown, ppl. a.
(grəʊn)
[Pa. pple. of grow v., q.v. for forms.]
1. a. Advanced in growth; increased in size, degree, etc.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 133 Eueri grene growe tre þat on þe ground spronge Hadde bremliche a brid þe braunchus alofte. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. iv. 29 There the growne Serpent lyes, the Worme that's fled. 1616 Rich Cabinet 124 b, Reason teacheth the Gardner to cut his growne herbes, and not pull them vp by the rootes. 1692 Locke Educ. §37 This is now so grown a Vice, and has so great Supports, that I know not whether it do not put in for the Name of Vertue. |
b. Of a crystal: produced by growing (grow v. 14 f).
| 1911 Encycl. Brit. VII. 584/1 The pitted and cavernous faces of artificially grown crystals of sodium chloride and of bismuth are..a result of rapid growth. 1962 Simpson & Richards Junction Transistors iii. 46 The manufacture of n-p-n grown-junction transistors. 1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. VII. 318/2 There are several variations of the grown-junction technique. The simplest consists of successively adding different types of impurities to the melt from which the semiconductor crystal is being grown. |
2. Arrived at maturity; grown-up. See also full-grown. † grown years: mature, ripe years.
For examples of the predicative use, see grow v. 6 b.
| 1645 J. Cotton Way Ch. New. Eng. 9 The Lords Supper, whereto persons of growner yeares, and fit to examine themselves, are invited. 1690 Locke Educ. §12, I saw lately a Pair of China Shoes, which I was told were for a grown Woman.., they would scarce have been big enough for one of our little Girls. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. Pref. 39 The grown and robust men. 1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsemen (1809) 14 Instructions to grown horsemen. 1823 Scott in N. & Q. Ser. ix. (1898) I. 264/1 They are really fitter for grown people than for children. 1894 Baring-Gould Kitty Alone II. 91, I wish I had..never cared for you as a child, never watched over you as a grown girl. |
3. Of the sea: Swollen, running high.
| 1600 Hakluyt Voy. (1810) III. 500 We found the winde so boystrous and contrary, and the sea so growen. 1730 Capt. W. Wriglesworth MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell’ 4 May, A very hollow grown Sea from the N.W. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Grown-sea, when the waves have full influence of a gale. |
4. Of corn: That has sprouted in the ear after reaching maturity.
| 1699 Poor Man's Plea 11 The Corn being ill cur'd, was wet, and grown, and soft, and what not. 1750 W. Ellis Country Housew. 8 What we call grown Wheat, in Hertfordshire, is that which is damaged in the Field by extra⁓ordinary wet Weather..then..for want of a free Air and Sun the Kernels grow and sprout before the Wheat is fit to be reaped. 1886 T. Hardy Mayor of Casterbr. v, If anybody will tell me how to turn grown wheat into wholesome wheat. |
Hence ˈgrownness, the state or condition of being (over-)grown.
| a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 47 He thocht ewer to haue excussit him self for his grownes and unhabilietie. 1747 Mem. Nutrebian Court II. 98 From his low stature, and thick growness [sic], she stiled him, The little great captain of the rabble. |
▪ II. grown
obs. form of ground n.
▪ III. grown
erron. form of growme Obs.