augimas

Augimas is a Lithuanian noun meaning growth. In common usage it denotes the process of increasing in size, amount, number, or importance. The term is used across disciplines, including biology, economics, demography, and urban development, to describe progressive change over time.

In biology, growth refers to the irreversible increase in size and mass of an organism, organ, or cell, typically driven by cell division and enlargement and supported by metabolism and nutrient availability. Growth can be somatic or developmental, and is often described using patterns such as exponential growth in early stages and logistic growth when resources limit expansion.

In economics, economic growth denotes a sustained increase in a economy's productive capacity, usually measured by real gross domestic product (GDP) growth per year. Population growth tracks changes in the size of a population over time, influenced by fertility, mortality, and migration, and is commonly expressed as a growth rate.

Growth is quantified using growth rates, absolute change, or compound measures such as the compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Several models describe growth patterns, including exponential growth and logistic growth with carrying capacity. Understanding growth involves considering abundance of resources, technology, institutions, and environmental constraints.

While growth is a central objective in many systems, it does not automatically reflect welfare or sustainability. Advocates distinguish between qualitative and sustainable growth, emphasizing distributive outcomes, environmental limits, and long-term resilience.