premature

[ pree-muh-choor, -toor, -tyoor, pree-muh-choor or, especially British, prem-uh-, prem-uh- ]
/ ˌpri məˈtʃʊər, -ˈtʊər, -ˈtyʊər, ˈpri məˌtʃʊər or, especially British, ˌprɛm ə-, ˈprɛm ə- /
SEE 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.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of premature

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

OTHER WORDS FROM premature

Words nearby premature

prelusive, prem., premalignant, Premarin, premarital, premature, premature atrial contraction, premature birth, premature delivery, premature ejaculation, premature labor
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to premature

immature, untimely, incomplete, hasty, ill-considered, abortive, embryonic, forward, green, inopportune, precipitate, previous, raw, soon, undeveloped, unripe, early on, predeveloped, unanticipated, unfledged

Example sentences from the Web for premature

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 of premature

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

Medical 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.

Other words from premature

pre′ma•tu′ri•ty n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.