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adult

[ uh-duhlt, ad-uhlt ]
/ əˈdʌlt, ˈæd ʌlt /
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See synonyms for: adult / adults / adulthood / adultness on Thesaurus.com
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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Origin of adult

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin adultus “grown” (past participle of adolēre “to make grow”), equivalent to ad- ad- + ul- (identical with base al- in aliment) + -tus past participle suffix

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. 2022

Words related to adult

man, person, woman, grownup, developed, grown, of age, ripe, ripened, gentleperson

How to use adult in a sentence

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
law a person who has attained the age of legal majority (18 years for most purposes)Compare infant

Derived forms of adult

adulthood, noun

Word 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.
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