grown

Grown is the past participle of the verb grow. As an adjective, it denotes something that has developed to full size or maturity, and as part of perfect verb tenses (has grown, had grown). It also appears in compound phrases that indicate origin or cultivation, such as homegrown food or fully grown plants, and is used in the term grown-up to describe an adult.

Etymology: Grown derives from Old English grōwan. The past participle was grōen, and the modern form arose through regular sound changes and analogical spelling, resulting in the irregular form grown that is common to English strong verbs.

Usage and context: In botany and agriculture, grown typically describes cultivated species or products, as opposed to wild. Field-grown, greenhouse-grown, and lab-grown indicate the environment or method of cultivation. In grammar, has grown forms the present perfect; as an adjective, grown can modify a noun, as in grown man or homegrown vegetables, meaning mature or fully developed. See also: Grow; Growth; Mature; Fully grown; Homegrown; Grown-up.