Growable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having the potential for expansion or improvement in both size and quantity
2. Able to be cultivated or advanced in a variety of situations over time
3. Able to be cultivated, nurtured, or increased in amount or size

Etymology: "Growable" is a plain formation: the verb "grow" with the suffix "-able," which turns a verb into an adjective meaning "capable of being" the action. So a growable crop is one that can be grown, and a growable business is one that can be expanded. The suffix comes into English through French from Latin "-abilis," meaning "able to be," and it has been attached to native English verbs for centuries, so "growable" is a sturdy, ordinary coinage rather than a learned borrowing. The word's meaning has shifted a little in modern use. It is now most often applied to markets, companies and investments, where it describes room for expansion, as in a growable customer base, though it can also describe plants or any other thing able to be increased.