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mature

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mature¹

  • /məˈtjʊə/ UK
  • /mət͡ʃoː/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /mət͡ʃɵː/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /məˈt͡ʃʊ(ə)ɹ/ US
  • /məˈt͡ʃɝ/ US
  • /məˈt(j)ʊəɹ/ US
  • /məˈt͡ʃʉː.ə/ Australia, New Zealand
  • /məˈt͡ʃʉɾ/ Scotland

Rhymes with -ʊə(ɹ), -ɜː(ɹ), -ɔː(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From late Middle English mature, from Middle French mature, from Latin mātūrus. Doublet of maduro. Partially displaced ripe, from Old English rīpe (“ripe, mature”).

adjective more mature · most mature

  1. Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe. She is quite mature for her age.
  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.
  4. obsolete Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
  5. Suitable for adults only, due to sexual themes, violence, etc. mature content

Similar: grown, grown up, mature

mature²

  • /məˈtjʊə/ UK
  • /mət͡ʃoː/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /mət͡ʃɵː/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /məˈt͡ʃʊ(ə)ɹ/ US
  • /məˈt͡ʃɝ/ US
  • /məˈt(j)ʊəɹ/ US
  • /məˈt͡ʃʉː.ə/ Australia, New Zealand
  • /məˈt͡ʃʉɾ/ Scotland

Rhymes with -ʊə(ɹ), -ɜː(ɹ), -ɔː(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English maturen, from Middle French maturer (“to mature”), from Latin mātūrō.

verb matures · maturing · matured

  1. intransitive 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. intransitive To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe. […] Trees […] have alwayes Fruit upon them, ripe, or preparing to mature;
  3. transitive To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion. […] But these thoughts Full Counsel must mature:
  4. transitive To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature. […] a ship well freighted with the stores The sun matures on India’s spicy shores,
  5. intransitive To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
  6. transitive To make (someone) mature. Then Tom shall have his kite, and Fan new dollies, Till time matures them for important follies.
  7. intransitive To reach the date when payment is due. When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.

Similar: maturate

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