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- /
adjective
occurring, coming, or done too soon: a premature announcement.
mature or ripe before the proper time.
noun
a premature infant.
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OTHER WORDS FROM premature
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for premature
The season of female beauty precedes that of their reason, and from its prematurity soon decays.
The History of Sumatra|William MarsdenOur next character is famous for prematurity of genius, and named John Lewis Candiac.
The Book of Curiosities|I. PlattsHis ideal was one of progress; but he came too soon, and paid for his prematurity with his life.
An Outline of Russian Literature|Maurice Baring"What Phillip is so stormed up about is the prematurity of it all," he said to Coffin.
The Coffin Cure|Alan Edward Nourse
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, nounWord 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.