adult
[ uh-duhlt, ad-uhlt ]
/ əˈdʌlt, ˈæd ʌlt /
noun
a person who is fully grown or developed or of age.
a full-grown animal or plant.
a person who has attained the age of maturity as specified by law.
adjective
verb (used without object)
Informal. (of a young person) to do things and assume responsibilities that are associated with being an adult; act like an adult (usually used facetiously about minor accomplishments): I cook dinner for myself most nights—guess that means I'm adulting.
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Should we be using "adulting" instead of the word "adult" these days?
QUIZZES
IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!
This windfall of words will make you rich with knowledge. Mine your memory on the words from July 27 to August 2!
Question 1 of 7
What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
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OTHER WORDS FROM adult
Words nearby adult
adularia, adulate, adulation, adulatory, Adullamite, adult, adult education, adulterant, adulterate, adulteration, adulterer
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for adult
British Dictionary definitions for adult
adult
/ (ˈædʌlt, əˈdʌlt) /
adjective
having reached maturity; fully developed
of or intended for mature peopleadult education
regarded as suitable only for adults, because of being pornographicadult films and magazines
noun
a person who has attained maturity; a grownup
a mature fully grown animal or plant
Derived forms of adult
adulthood, nounWord Origin for adult
C16: from Latin adultus, from adolēscere to grow up, from alēscere to grow, from alēre to feed, nourish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for adult
adult
[ ə-dŭlt′, ăd′ŭlt ]
n.
One who has attained maturity or legal age.
A fully grown, mature organism.
adj.
Fully developed and mature.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.