premature

[ pree-muh-choo r, -too r, -tyoo r, pree-muh-choo r or, esp. British, prem-uh-, prem-uh- ]

/ ˌpri məˈtʃʊər, -ˈtʊər, -ˈtyʊər, ˈpri məˌtʃʊər or, esp. British, ˌprɛm ə-, ˈprɛm ə- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR premature ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

occurring, coming, or done too soon: a premature announcement.

mature or ripe before the proper time.

noun

a premature infant.

Nearby words

prem, prem., premalignant, premarin, premarital, premature, premature birth, premature delivery, premature ejaculation, premature labor, premature systole

Origin of premature

From the Latin word praemātūrus, dating back to 1520–30. See pre-, mature

Related forms

pre·ma·ture·ly, adverbpre·ma·tu·ri·ty, pre·ma·ture·ness, nounun·pre·ma·ture, adjectiveun·pre·ma·ture·ly, adverb

un·pre·ma·ture·ness, noun

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

Examples from the Web for premature

Premature buzz over Girls built into a mountain of hype that was unscalable for Dunham.
HBO’s ‘Looking,’ Gays, and Sex: Are We All Expecting Too Much?|Kevin Fallon|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Premature infants in neonatal intensive care are at high risk for infection.
Big Data’s Powerful Effect on Tiny Babies|CNBC|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Premature birth occurs in nearly one-third of the cases among the former, but among the latter only one-eighth.
Abstracts of Papers Read at the First International Eugenics Congress|Various
Premature old age appeared to have settled on him, and his niece had privately consulted Dr. Sage on his case.
The Sea Lions|James Fenimore Cooper

Premature birth ought to be avoided, because the child born too early is insufficiently equipped for the task before him.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6 (of 6)|Havelock Ellis
Premature despair and the deepest discouragement have been my constant portion.
Amiel's Journal|Henri-Frdric Amiel
Premature old age was fast advancing upon the king, though he had as yet attained only his forty-ninth year.
Louis XIV., Makers of History Series|John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for premature

premature

/ (ˌprɛməˈtjʊə, ˈprɛməˌtjʊə) /

adjective

occurring or existing before the normal or expected time

impulsive or hastya premature judgment

(of an infant) weighing less than 2500 g (5 1/2 lbs) and usually born before the end of the full period of gestation

Derived Forms

prematurely, adverbprematureness or prematurity, noun

Word Origin for premature

C16: from Latin praemātūrus, very early, from prae in advance + mātūrus ripe

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

Medicine definitions for premature

premature

[ prē′mə-chur′, -tur′ ]

adj.

Occurring or developing before the usual or expected time.

Born after a gestation period of less than the normal time, especially, in human infants, after a period of less than 37 weeks.

Related forms

pre′ma•tu′ri•ty n.