maturation
Americannoun
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the process of becoming mature, ripe, fully aged or developed, etc..
Maturation of the wine takes place in high-quality oak barrels.
Making and breaking relationships is part of a young person’s normal maturation.
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Cell Biology.
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the end of the process by which cells or tissues change from relatively generalized to highly specialized.
The maturation of pancreatic beta cells enables them to respond with specialized accuracy to glucose levels.
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the transformation of an immature egg or sperm cell into a gamete ready to unite with another to form a new organism, especially the part of the process that occurs after meiosis.
In some species, if the animal is starving, egg cell maturation is blocked so that reproduction cannot take place.
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Pathology. the stage at which a wound, boil, etc., produces pus; suppuration.
noun
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the process of maturing or ripening
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zoology the development of ova and spermatozoa from precursor cells in the ovary and testis, involving meiosis
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a less common word for suppuration
Usage
What does maturation mean? Maturation is the process of reaching a stage of full or advanced development.In other words, maturation is the process of maturating (or maturing) or of reaching maturity.The word is often used to refer to the process of a person developing physically or starting to act more grown-up (more mature). It can also be applied to plants or other living things to refer to their development process, such as the ripening of a fruit.Maturation can also be used in more specific and technical ways, including to refer to the formation of reproductive cells or to the production or discharge of pus, such as from a wound (which is more commonly called suppuration).Example: It’s been a privilege to witness the maturation of these students over the last four years.
Other Word Forms
- maturational adjective
- nonmaturation noun
Etymology
Origin of maturation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “suppuration,” from Medieval Latin mātūrātiōn-, stem of mātūrātiō; equivalent to maturate + -ion
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.
Meanwhile, the audience has perched between seasons, with little indication of whether the show will sufficiently account for its young stars’ off-camera maturation within the story once it returns.
From Salon
Those strides served as a reminder of Bellinger’s tantalizing talent, as well as a sign of his growing maturation as he enters his 10th year in the majors.
From Los Angeles Times
Together, the researchers say, the findings suggest early and combined efforts to boost T-cell activity not only kill tumor cells directly but also induce TLS maturation that sustains and amplifies anti-tumor responses.
From Science Daily
The archaic variant accelerated brain maturation but resulted in less complexity over time.
From Science Daily
It also highlights the band’s maturation and liberation as established artists at the height of their performing powers.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
