evolve verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of evolve verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

evolve

verb
 OPAL W
 
/ɪˈvɒlv/
 
/ɪˈvɑːlv/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they evolve
 
/ɪˈvɒlv/
 
/ɪˈvɑːlv/
he / she / it evolves
 
/ɪˈvɒlvz/
 
/ɪˈvɑːlvz/
past simple evolved
 
/ɪˈvɒlvd/
 
/ɪˈvɑːlvd/
past participle evolved
 
/ɪˈvɒlvd/
 
/ɪˈvɑːlvd/
-ing form evolving
 
/ɪˈvɒlvɪŋ/
 
/ɪˈvɑːlvɪŋ/
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  1.  
    [intransitive, transitive] to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complicated form; to develop something in this way
    • evolve (from something) (into something) The idea evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic.
    • The company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer.
    • evolve something (from something) Each school must evolve its own way of working.
    Extra Examples
    • Online games tend to evolve over time.
    • Our products have been evolving according to the requirements of the times.
    • He evolved his style of painting while working as a magazine illustrator.
    • The market has evolved considerably in recent years.
    • The protest movement has evolved into a well organized political party.
    • Veterinary medicine is steadily evolving to meet the demands of pet owners.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • gradually
    • slowly
    • quickly
    • …
    verb + evolve
    • continue to
    • tend to
    preposition
    • according to
    • from
    • into
    • …
    phrases
    • fully evolved
    • highly evolved
    See full entry
  2.  
    [intransitive, transitive] (biology) (of plants, animals, etc.) to develop over time, often many generations, into forms that are better adapted to survive changes in their environment
    • evolve (from something) The three species evolved from a single ancestor.
    • evolve something The dolphin has evolved a highly developed jaw.
    Extra Examples
    • Africa and its wildlife evolved together.
    • Monkeys in the New World evolved quite separately from those in the Old World.
    • More complex animals gradually evolved from these very simple creatures.
    • These are very highly evolved animals.
    Topics Biologyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • gradually
    • slowly
    • quickly
    • …
    verb + evolve
    • continue to
    • tend to
    preposition
    • according to
    • from
    • into
    • …
    phrases
    • fully evolved
    • highly evolved
    See full entry
    3. Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the general sense ‘make more complex, develop’): from Latin evolvere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out of’ + volvere ‘to roll’.
See evolve in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee evolve in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: evolve

Nearby words

pity
noun
 
 
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