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mature

[muh-toor, -tyoor, -choor, -chur]
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adjective, ma·tur·er, ma·tur·est.
  1. complete in natural growth or development, as plant and animal forms: a mature rose bush.
  2. ripe, as fruit, or fully aged, as cheese or wine.
  3. fully developed in body or mind, as a person: She was a mature woman who took her family responsibilities seriously.
  4. noting or pertaining to an adult who is middle-aged or older (used euphemistically): discrimination against mature applicants.
  5. pertaining to or characteristic of full development: a mature appearance; fruit with a mature softness.
  6. completed, perfected, or elaborated in full by the mind: mature plans.
  7. (of an industry, technology, market, etc.) no longer developing or expanding; having little or no potential for further growth or expansion; exhausted or saturated.
  8. intended for or restricted to adults, especially by reason of explicit sexual content or the inclusion of violence or obscene language: mature movies.
  9. 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.
  10. Finance. having reached the limit of its time; having become payable or due: a mature bond.
  11. Medicine/Medical.
    1. having attained definitive form or function, as by maturation of an epithelium from a basal layer.
    2. having attained the end stage of a normal or abnormal biological process: a mature boil.
  12. Geology. (of a landscape) exhibiting the stage of maximum topographical diversity, as in the cycle of erosion of a land surface.
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verb (used with object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.
  1. to make mature; ripen, as fruit or cheese.
  2. to bring to full development: His hard experiences in the city matured him.
  3. to complete or perfect: We matured our vision for the company. She matured her songwriting throughout her career.
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verb (used without object), ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.
  1. to become mature; ripen, as fruit or cheese.
  2. to come to full development: Our plans have not yet matured.
  3. Finance. to become due, as a note.
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Origin of mature

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin mātūrus ripe, timely, early; akin to manes, matutinal
Related formsma·ture·ly, adverbma·ture·ment, nounma·ture·ness, nounma·tur·er, nounhalf-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

Synonyms

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1, 3. aged, grown, adult. 2. See ripe. 6. ready, prepared. 13, 16. age, develop.

Antonyms

1, 3. childish, raw, green, young.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

evolvedevelopmushroomblossomripenmellowbloomgrowperfectadvanceflowerseasonageculminateprimematurateprogressarriveround

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British Dictionary definitions for matures

mature

adjective
  1. relatively advanced physically, mentally, emotionally, etc; grown-up
  2. (of plans, theories, etc) fully considered; perfected
  3. due or payablea mature debenture
  4. biology
    1. fully developed or differentiateda mature cell
    2. fully grown; adulta mature animal
  5. (of fruit, wine, cheese, etc) ripe or fully aged
  6. (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)
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verb
  1. to make or become mature
  2. (intr) (of notes, bonds, etc) to become due for payment or repayment
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Derived Formsmaturely, adverbmatureness, noun

Word Origin

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 matures

mature

adj.

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

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mature

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
matures in Medicine

mature

(mə-chur′, -tur′)
adj.
  1. Having reached full natural growth or development.
  2. Of, relating to, or characteristic of full mental or physical development.
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v.
  1. To evolve toward or reach full development.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.