developer English · revision 6941

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1796}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈvɛləpə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /dɪˈvɛləpɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[develop]] and [[-er]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who or that which develops: 1833 in the OED and Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) MWU dates it to 1796.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In photography, the chemical used to bring out the latent image is from 1869,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a worker who develops photographs from 1899.^(OED 1989) An apparatus for developing the muscles is from 1900,^(OED 1989) and a person who matures at a certain rate, as a ''late developer'', from 1930.^(OED 1989) One who develops land or buildings, a speculative builder, is by 1938.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A person or company that writes software is a later sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1796 – first use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1833 – one who develops.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1869 – a photographic chemical.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930 – late developer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1938 – a property developer.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or company that buys land and builds on it for profit.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person or company that creates computer [[software]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(photography)'' A chemical used to make an image visible on exposed film.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who matures at a certain rate: ''a late developer''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[develop]]

+ * [[development]]

+ * [[developmental]]

+ * [[envelop]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}