mature

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

/ məˈtʊər, -ˈtyʊər, -ˈtʃʊər, -ˈtʃɜr /

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See synonyms for: mature / matured / matures / maturing 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR mature

1, 3 aged, grown, adult.

6 ready, prepared.

13, 16 age, develop.

See synonyms for mature on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR mature

1, 3 childish, raw, green, young.

See antonyms for mature on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of mature

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin mātūrus “ripe, timely, early”; akin to manes, matutinal

synonym study for mature

2. See ripe.

OTHER WORDS FROM mature

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

How to use mature in a sentence

As our brains mature from childhood to adulthood, we also undergo apoptosis.
Scientists Say: Apoptosis|Bethany Brookshire|November 30, 2020|Science News For Students
Serious soundSmart speakers that talk just turned five, and you can actually hear them maturing.
It’s okay if you weren’t paying attention to gadgets in 2020. Here are the best ones you missed.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
“He was a monster,” Gur said of the player then maturing before Israel’s eyes.
Deni Avdija is ‘the greatest talent in Israeli basketball history.’ But is he ready for the NBA?|Steve Hendrix|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
As the product category expands and matures, more adoption is almost certainly likely—in either case, it’s good to know that some of the big guns still feel strongly about its potential.
Best smartwatch: Five things to consider|Eric Alt|November 28, 2020|Popular-Science

The category has matured to offer an interesting range of options for children across a wide span of ages, shedding some of its earlier reliance on Disney IP in favor of more original ideas.
Gift Guide: 22 STEM toy gift ideas for every little builder|Natasha Lomas|November 23, 2020|TechCrunch
You will find a site that matures close to 200,000 casks of whisky.
Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His family had to flee, and he goes on a geographic as well as an inward journey as the young Qais matures fast.
A Carpet Weaver’s Essential Afghan Memoir: Qais Akbar Omar’s ‘A Fort of Nine Towers’|John Kael Weston|June 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The suspension applies to all components and will remain effect until the fiscal situation matures.
The Sequestration Cuts Education Benefits for Active Duty Military Personnel|Ilana Glazer|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But there have been plenty of gems—Tyler Burrell is on fire—as the show matures in its third season but never gets old.
Homeland, Justified, Downton Abbey & More: The Best and Worst TV Shows of 2011|Jace Lacob, Maria Elena Fernandez|December 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
By May, its bulb can grow as big as two centimeters, and turns pink and then a deep red as it matures.
The Wonderful World of Ramps|Jeff Gimmel|April 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The fruit commonly has the general shape of the female inflorescence, but as it matures it increases greatly in size.
Philippine Mats|Hugo H. Miller
In the flower where the father and mother part matures at the same time, self-fertilization is the rule.
The Mother and Her Child|William S. Sadler
Still higher up the forage matures later and the grazing season extends from August until November.
Our National Forests|Richard H. Douai Boerker
This is almost identical with the Cauliflower, except that it usually requires a longer season and matures in the fall.
The Practical Garden-Book|C. E. Hunn
When the period of growth is well advanced, the living thing matures organs for the preservation of its kind.
Birds and all Nature, Vol. IV, No. 1, July 1898|Various

British Dictionary definitions for mature

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 forms of mature

maturely, 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

mature

OTHER WORDS FOR mature

OPPOSITES FOR mature

Origin of mature

synonym study for mature

OTHER WORDS FROM mature

Words related to mature

How to use mature in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mature

Derived forms of mature

Word Origin for mature