English Explanatory Dictionary

mature

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
  2. Brought to a state of complete readiness.
  3. Profound; careful.
  4. Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
  5. Suitable for adults only, due to sexual themes, violence, etc.
verb
  1. To proceed toward maturity: full development or completion (either of concrete or of abstract things, e.g. plans, judgments, qualities).
  2. To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
  3. To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion.
  4. To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature.
  5. To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
  6. To make (someone) mature.
  7. To reach the date when payment is due.

Pronunciation

/məˈt͡ʃɔː(ɹ)/ /məˈt͡ʃʊə(ɹ)/ /məˈtjʊə(ɹ)/ [mət͡ʃoː] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-mature.wav /məˈt͡ʃʊ(ə)ɹ/ /məˈt͡ʃɝ/ /məˈt(j)ʊəɹ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-AnotherFriendlyHuman-mature.wav

Word forms

mature more mature most mature matures maturing matured

Etymology

From late Middle English mature, from Middle French mature, from Latin mātūrus. Doublet of maduro. Partially displaced ripe, from Old English rīpe (“ripe, mature”).

Synonyms

grown grown up mature adult adultish maturate develop grow progress ripen ripen up age grow up antiquate eld obsolete

Antonyms

childish immature superficial

Related words

matura full-grown

Derived words

dysmature hypermature hypomature maturase maturation mature-age student mature BL maturely maturement mature minor matureness maturescent mature student maturish maturity nonmature overmature postmature premature semimature sexually mature submature supermature maturable mature up unmaturing
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