evolved

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of evolve.

   The bird's beak evolved to crack the hardest seeds on the island.

   Their business model has evolved considerably since the first year.

   Note

   The verb is regular, and one spelling does both jobs: the plain past (the beak evolved) and the perfect after have (it has evolved). The passive takes be, which is where the chemist's use appears: a gas is evolved during a reaction. In that use the verb means given off, not developed, so read it with care. Standing before a noun with no auxiliary, the word is usually the adjective instead.

   The reaction evolved carbon dioxide within minutes.

   Oxygen is evolved at the anode as the current flows.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having come about through evolution or through repeated rounds of gradual development.

   The software's evolved interface reflects years of user feedback.

   Biologists studied the evolved traits that let these fish survive in dark caves.

   Similardeveloped, refined, advanced, adapted

   Oppositeprimitive, rudimentary

   Note

   A participle that has become a true adjective, and a gradable one. Things can be more evolved or most evolved, which the verb form never allows. Before a noun it names the result of a long process: evolved traits, an evolved interface. After have, the same word becomes the past participle of evolve again, so the position in the sentence tells you which one you are reading.

3. 3
   adjectivecolloquial

   Naturally gifted in physical or genetic terms; blessed with strong inborn traits.

   The coach called his sprinter genetically evolved, born with rare physical gifts.

   Fans described the bodybuilder as evolved, all natural muscle and good genes.

   Similargifted, blessed

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