growth

/ɡrəʊθ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡrəʊθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrōth/ (ame, mw)

growth — 名詞

  • growthsingular
  • growthsplural

1. the natural process by which a living thing becomes bigger, stronger, or more co

1.名詞B1
釋義

生長

生物體體積增加的過程

the natural process by which a living thing becomes bigger, stronger, or more complex as time passes

例句

A balanced diet is essential for a child's healthy physical growth.

均衡的飲食對孩子健康的生理生長至關重要。

uncountable noun for the natural process

The gardener measured the growth of the tomato plants every week.

園丁每週測量番茄植株的生長情況。

同義詞
  • development

    broader term that can include mental, emotional, or structural change, not just size

  • maturing

    focuses on reaching an adult or complete stage; more biological in tone

反義詞
  • shrinkage

    a reduction in size, the physical opposite of growth

  • decay

    gradual breakdown of tissue, opposite of healthy development

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and describes the ongoing process, not a finished result. Typical subjects include children, animals, plants, hair, nails, and brain tissue.

常見錯誤

❌The growth of my son is getting taller.
✅My son is growing taller.
💡'growth' describes the process, not a person increasing height directly.

2. a situation in which something becomes larger in quantity, scale, or significanc

2.名詞B2
釋義

增長

數量、規模或重要性的增加

a situation in which something becomes larger in quantity, scale, or significance — applied to areas such as company revenue, city population, or national economic activity

例句

The city has seen rapid population growth over the past decade.

該城市在過去十年中出現了快速的人口增長。

collocation: population growth / economic growth / sales growth

Lakshmi's company achieved strong sales growth in the Asian market.

Lakshmi 的公司在新興市場中實現了強勁的銷售增長。

同義詞
  • increase

    more general, can apply to any measurable change; less formal in economic contexts

  • expansion

    suggests broadening in scope or territory, not just numbers

  • rise

    focuses on upward movement of a figure; common in graphs and reports

反義詞
  • decline

    a downward trend in size, amount, or importance

  • reduction

    a deliberate or natural decrease; neutral in register

用法筆記

Common in business, economics, and social science contexts. As a countable singular noun ('a growth in…') it emphasises a specific instance of increase rather than the general trend.

常見錯誤

❌There was growth of crime in the area.
✅There was a growth in crime in the area.
💡'a growth in' is the correct pattern for specific increases.
❌The economy experienced growths in several sectors.
✅The economy experienced growth in several sectors.
💡'growth' is usually uncountable; use 'a growth' (singular) not 'growths'.

3. an abnormal clump of biological tissue that develops inside or on a living organ

3.名詞B2
釋義

腫塊

因疾病形成的異常細胞團塊

an abnormal clump of biological tissue that develops inside or on a living organism as the result of illness, and may be either non-cancerous or cancerous

例句

The doctor found a small growth on Zola's lung during the scan.

醫生在掃描中發現 Zola 的肺部有一個小腫塊。

medical context: growth on [body part]

Most skin growths are harmless, but some need to be removed.

大多數皮膚腫塊是無害的，但有些需要切除。

countable plural: skin growths

同義詞
  • tumour

    more precise medical term; implies a mass, often (but not always) abnormal

  • lump

    everyday word for any swelling; less clinical than 'growth'

用法筆記

When countable ('a growth' / 'growths'), it refers to a specific abnormal mass. When uncountable ('growth of tissue'), it refers to the process of abnormal cell proliferation. Medical professionals often specify 'benign' or 'malignant'.

常見錯誤

❌I have growth on my arm.
✅I have a growth on my arm.
💡always use the article 'a' when referring to a specific lump.

4. any plant matter, moss, or other natural covering that has appeared and spread o

4.名詞B1
釋義

生長物

自然長出的植物或覆蓋物

any plant matter, moss, or other natural covering that has appeared and spread on a surface, such as ivy on a wall or new shoots on a bush after rain

例句

A thick green growth of moss covered the old stone wall.

一層厚綠色的苔蘚覆蓋了舊石牆。

pattern: a [adjective] growth of [plant type]

The gardener cleared the unwanted growth from the flower beds before planting new seeds.

園丁在播種新種子之前清除了花壇中多餘的生長物。

同義詞
  • vegetation

    broader, more formal term for plant life in general

  • foliage

    refers specifically to leaves; more literary in tone

用法筆記

Describes visible plant matter that has already grown, as opposed to the process of growing (sense 1). Often modified by adjectives such as 'new', 'dense', 'thick', or 'unwanted'.

常見錯誤

❌There is a growth of grass in the garden.' (vague — all gardens have grass)
✅There was a thick growth of weeds along the fence.
💡use 'growth' for noticeable, often dense, vegetation.