maturate
Americanverb
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to mature or bring to maturity
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a less common word for suppurate
Usage
What does maturate mean? Maturate means to reach or progress toward a stage of full or advanced development. Maturate is a more formal and technical synonym for the verb mature (meaning to become mature or bring to maturity). Maturate is most often used in scientific contexts, especially involving the development of living things. Specifically, it can mean to form reproductive cells. It can also mean to produce or discharge pus, such as from a wound (a more common word for this is suppurate). The process of maturating (or maturing) is maturation. Example: The fruits are picked only after they have maturated on the vine.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of maturate
1535–45; < Latin mātūrātus, past participle of mātūrāre to grow ripe, bring to maturity. See mature, -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The affection in my face soon terminated in three or four pustules attended with inflammation, but which did not maturate, and I was presently well.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
In the first instance it produced a few pustules, which did not maturate; but in the subsequent cases none appeared.—E.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
The consequences frequently are inflammation and eruptions which maturate.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
Galen, and after his school, Grew and Santarelli, ascribed digestion to a concoction, during which, food was maturated by the stomach’s heat, like fruit by the solar rays.
From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Some of these pustules advanced in size and maturated.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
All the children had pustules which maturated, so that I suppose them all secure from future infection; at least, as secure as any others whom I have ever inoculated.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
This woman was now infected, but had the disease in the slightest manner, a very few eruptions appearing, two or three of which only maturated.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
It certainly appears extremely extraordinary that in all my cases there never was but one pustule, which appeared on a patient's elbow on the inoculated arm, and maturated.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
Disappointment, worry, and feelings of failure are all common responses to children maturating and becoming their own people, and can lead parents away from listening to their children and accepting them for who they are.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2018
A few pustules now appeared, the greater part of which went away without maturating.
From The Harvard Classics Volume 38 Scientific Papers (Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, Geology) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
