mature
adjectiveverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom/[mət͡ʃoː]/
- //məˈt͡ʃɔː(ɹ)//
- //məˈt͡ʃʊə(ɹ)//
- //məˈtjʊə(ɹ)//
Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
adjective
- 1
Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
She is quite mature for her age.
The excellent mature eggplants grown in the garden plot are quickly being picked up by family and friends.
- 2
Brought to a state of complete readiness.
a mature plan
- 3
Profound; careful.
The headmaster decided to expel the boy after a mature consideration.
On mature reflection, I feel it would be wiser not to sell.
- 4
obsoleteCome to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
- 5
Suitable for adults only, due to sexual themes, violence, etc.
mature content
Etymology
From late Middle English mature, from Middle French mature, from Latin mātūrus. Doublet of maduro. Partially displaced ripe, from Old English rīpe (“ripe, mature”).
verb
- 1
To proceed toward maturity: full development or completion (either of concrete or of abstract things, e.g. plans, judgments, qualities).
[…] his originality, in the mean time, was maturing to perfection.
- 2
To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
[…] Trees […] have alwayes Fruit upon them, ripe, or preparing to mature;
- 3
To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion.
[…] But these thoughts Full Counsel must mature:
[…] much it now Imports they should be still deceiv’d, till time Matures our enterprize;
[…] I did not interrupt her, I was so busy maturing a plan I had had in my mind for some days […]
[…] the long clean groove of her upper lip was ready to go into motion, as if she were going to break her silence with something momentous and long-matured; explain love to me, perhaps.
- 4
To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature.
[…] a ship well freighted with the stores The sun matures on India’s spicy shores,
There are certain vegetables like the tomato which require a long period to mature the fruit, and these must be started several weeks before the frosts have passed.
- 5
To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
- 6
To make (someone) mature.
Then Tom shall have his kite, and Fan new dollies, Till time matures them for important follies.
[…] what I most wanted was time to grow up. The war had not matured me;
Having parents who are "different" from other parents does not make my children's upbringing easy, but having four parents (or two sets of parents) hopefully will mature my children into adults respecting of diversity of personalities and pluralities of races, nationalities, and cultures.
- 7
To reach the date when payment is due.
When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.
Etymology
From Middle English maturen, from Middle French maturer (“to mature”), from Latin mātūrō.
Forms
- comparative
- more mature
- superlative
- most mature
- past tense
- matured
- past participle
- matured
- present participle
- maturing
- third person singular
- matures
mature · Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
maturity · The state of being mature, ready or ripe; the prime state of…maud · A grey plaid once worn by shepherds in Scotland and…Maud · A female given name from the Germanic languages.