mature

[ muh-toor, -tyoor, -choor, -chur ]

/ məˈtʊər, -ˈtyʊər, -ˈtʃʊər, -ˈtʃɜr /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mature ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, ma·tur·er, ma·tur·est.

complete in natural growth or development, as plant and animal forms: a mature rose bush.

ripe, as fruit, or fully aged, as cheese or wine.

fully developed in body or mind, as a person: She was a mature woman who took her family responsibilities seriously.

noting or pertaining to an adult who is middle-aged or older (used euphemistically): discrimination against mature applicants.

pertaining to or characteristic of full development: a mature appearance; fruit with a mature softness.

completed, perfected, or elaborated in full by the mind: mature plans.

(of an industry, technology, market, etc.) no longer developing or expanding; having little or no potential for further growth or expansion; exhausted or saturated.

intended for or restricted to adults, especially by reason of explicit sexual content or the inclusion of violence or obscene language: mature movies.

composed of adults, considered as being less susceptible than minors to explicit sexual content, violence, or obscene language, as of a film or stage performance: for mature audiences only.

Finance. having reached the limit of its time; having become payable or due: a mature bond.

Medicine/Medical.

having attained definitive form or function, as by maturation of an epithelium from a basal layer.
having attained the end stage of a normal or abnormal biological process: a mature boil.

Geology. (of a landscape) exhibiting the stage of maximum topographical diversity, as in the cycle of erosion of a land surface.

verb (used with object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.

to make mature; ripen, as fruit or cheese.

to bring to full development: His hard experiences in the city matured him.

to complete or perfect: We matured our vision for the company. She matured her songwriting throughout her career.

verb (used without object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.

to become mature; ripen, as fruit or cheese.

to come to full development: Our plans have not yet matured.

Finance. to become due, as a note.

Nearby words

Origin of mature

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin mātūrus ripe, timely, early; akin to manes, matutinal

SYNONYMS FOR mature

1, 3 aged, grown, adult.

2 See ripe.

6 ready, prepared.

13, 16 age, develop.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mature ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR mature

1, 3 childish, raw, green, young.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR mature ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ma·ture·ly, adverbma·ture·ment, nounma·ture·ness, nounma·tur·er, noun

half-ma·tured, adjectivenon·ma·ture, adjectivenon·ma·ture·ly, adverbnon·ma·ture·ness, nouno·ver·ma·ture, adjectiveo·ver·ma·ture·ly, adverbo·ver·ma·ture·ness, nounself-ma·tured, adjectivesem·i·ma·ture, adjectivesem·i·ma·ture·ly, adverbsem·i·ma·ture·ness, nounun·ma·ture, adjectiveun·ma·ture·ly, adverbun·ma·tured, adjectiveun·ma·tur·ing, adjectivewell-ma·tured, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for matured

How much do you think he has matured over the course of the first season, and going into the new one?
Imagine Andy Samberg as Your Best Man|Kevin Fallon|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a post-Cold War figure who matured through “movements,” Barack Obama is drawing from a distinct tradition.
How Obama's Shallow Worldview Failed Us|Stuart Stevens|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All of the whisky used in both types of scotch must be matured in Scotland and aged for a minimum of three years in oak casks.
Don't Be a Single-Malt Scotch Snob|Kayleigh Kulp|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I've been thinking about it for a while and waited for the right time, and now it's matured.
Model Suki Waterhouse Lands Major Movie Role; Giambattista Valli Launches Second Ready-to-Wear Line|The Fashion Beast Team|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As India gained freedom, and matured into herself, the Imperial began to fall apart.
An Indian Icon Reborn: The Imperial Hotel Reclaims Its Glory Days|Esha Chhabra|May 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The uncontrolled eccentricities of the matured do so much harm, that it is found necessary to suppress them.
The Modern Malady|Cyril Bennett
They have matured (have adapted to environment, that is) precociously.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction|Arabella Kenealy
This their first taste of Hilda, the matured woman, did not augur well.
A Woman's Burden|Fergus Hume
How strange it is to recall one's first impressions of public men in the midst of one's matured opinions of them!
Retrospect of Western Travel, Volume I (of 2)|Harriet Martineau
Lastly, there is the fresh presentation of Balaustion, of the matured and experienced woman whom we have known as a happy girl.
The Poetry Of Robert Browning|Stopford A. Brooke

British Dictionary definitions for matured

mature

/ (məˈtjʊə, -ˈtʃʊə) /

adjective

relatively advanced physically, mentally, emotionally, etc; grown-up

(of plans, theories, etc) fully considered; perfected

due or payablea mature debenture

biology

fully developed or differentiateda mature cell
fully grown; adulta mature animal

(of fruit, wine, cheese, etc) ripe or fully aged

(of a river valley or land surface) in the middle stage of the cycle of erosion, characterized by meanders, maximum relief, etcSee also youthful (def. 4), old (def. 18)

verb

to make or become mature

(intr) (of notes, bonds, etc) to become due for payment or repayment

Derived Formsmaturely, adverbmatureness, noun

Word Origin for mature

C15: from Latin mātūrus early, developed

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

Word Origin and History for matured (1 of 2)

mature

adj.

mid-15c., "ripe," also "careful, well-considered," from Latin maturus "ripe, timely, early" (see mature (v.)).

Word Origin and History for matured (1 of 2)

mature

late 14c., "encourage suppuration;" mid-15c. "bring to maturity," from Latin maturare "to ripen, bring to maturity," from maturus "ripe, timely, early," related to manus "good" and mane "early, of the morning," from PIE root *ma- "good," with derivatives meaning "occurring at a good moment, timely, seasonable, early." Meaning "come or bring to maturity" is from 1620s. The financial sense of "reach the time for payment" is from 1861. Related: Matured; maturing.

Medicine definitions for matured

mature

[ mə-chur′, -tur′ ]

adj.

Having reached full natural growth or development.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of full mental or physical development.

v.

To evolve toward or reach full development.

mature

adjective, ma·tur·er, ma·tur·est.

verb (used with object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.

verb (used without object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of mature

Examples from the Web for matured

British Dictionary definitions for matured

mature

adjective

verb

Word Origin for mature

Word Origin and History for matured (1 of 2)

mature

Word Origin and History for matured (1 of 2)

mature

Medicine definitions for matured

mature

adj.

v.