This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
precocious
[ pri-koh-shuhs ]
/ prɪˈkoʊ ʃəs /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child.
prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
of or relating to premature development.
Botany.
- flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
- bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
- appearing before leaves, as flowers.
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…
OTHER WORDS FROM precocious
Words nearby precocious
preclimax, preclinical, preclude, precluded, precocial, precocious, precocity, precognition, precolonial, pre-Columbian, precompose
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use precocious in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for precocious
precocious
/ (prɪˈkəʊʃəs) /
adjective
ahead in development, such as the mental development of a child
botany (of plants, fruit, etc) flowering or ripening early
Derived forms of precocious
precociously, adverbprecociousness or precocity (prɪˈkɒsɪtɪ), nounWord Origin for precocious
C17: from Latin praecox early maturing, from prae early + coquere to ripen
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
Scientific definitions for precocious
precocious
[ prĭ-kō′shəs ]
Relating to or having flowers that blossom before the leaves emerge. Some species of magnolias are precocious.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.