English Explanatory Dictionary

adult

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An animal that is full-grown.
  2. A person who has reached the legal age of majority.
adj
  1. Fully grown.
  2. Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  3. Containing situations or discussions intended primarily for adults, such as serious crime, illicit drug use, extramarital affairs, etc.
  4. Containing alcohol, intended for consumption only by adults.
  5. Containing marijuana, intended for consumption only by adults.
  6. Containing material of an explicit sexual nature; pornographic.
  7. Containing excessive vulgar or profane speech, text or images, intended only for adults.
  8. Intended for, or restricted to, those who are not young children.
verb
  1. To behave like an adult.
  2. To (cause to) be or become an adult.

Pronunciation

/ˈæd.ʌlt/ /ˈæd.əlt/ En-gb-adult.ogg /əˈdʌlt/ [əˈdʌɫt] [ˈæɾl̩t] en-ca-adult.opus en-us-adult.ogg [ˈadʌɫt] en-ca-adult-variant.ogg [ˈadʊɫt] [ˈad(ə)ɫt] [aˈdʌɫt] [əˈdʊɫt] /əˈdɒlt/ /ˈæd.ɒlt/

Word forms

adult adults more adult most adult adulting adulted

Etymology

From French adulte, from Latin adultus (“grown up”), perfect passive participle of adolescō (“to grow up”). Compare adolescent.

Synonyms

adult grown-up grownup growed-up postpubescent grown up fully grown for adults X-rated XXX XXXX blue indecent obscene salacious big pornographic

Antonyms

child youngling

Related words

adultlike mature adolescent adulthood

Derived words

adult actress adult album alternative adult alternative adult baby adult baby syndrome adult beverage adult bookstore adultcentrism adult child adult contemporary adult content adult education adultescent adult film adulticide adultification adultify adultish adultism adultivity adultization adultize adult language adult learner adultlike adultly adult movie adultness adultocentric adultoid adult-onset diabetes adultophile adult-oriented rock adult protection adult relations adult respiratory distress syndrome adultship adult shop adultspeak adult star adult survivor adult third culture kid adultwear adulty appropriate adult consenting adult Disney adult emerging adult hot adult contemporary hyperadult kidult new adult nonadult older adult preadult pseudoadult subadult unadult young adult
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