mature

[ muh-toor, -tyoor, -choor, -chur ]

adjective

, ma·tur·er, ma·tur·est.

1. complete in natural growth or development, as plant and animal forms:

   a mature rose bush.

   Synonyms: adult, grown, aged

   Antonyms: young, green, raw, childish

2. ripe, as fruit, or fully aged, as cheese or wine.
3. fully developed in body or mind, as a person:

   She was a mature woman who took her family responsibilities seriously.

   Synonyms: adult, grown, aged

   Antonyms: young, green, raw, childish

4. noting or pertaining to an adult who is middle-aged or older (used euphemistically):

   discrimination against mature applicants.

5. pertaining to or characteristic of full development:

   a mature appearance; fruit with a mature softness.

6. completed, perfected, or elaborated in full by the mind:

   mature plans.

   Synonyms: prepared, ready

7. (of an industry, technology, market, etc.) no longer developing or expanding; having little or no potential for further growth or expansion; exhausted or saturated.
8. intended for or restricted to adults, especially by reason of explicit sexual content or the inclusion of violence or obscene language:

   mature movies.

9. composed of adults, considered as being less susceptible than minors to explicit sexual content, violence, or obscene language, as of a film or stage performance:

   for mature audiences only.

10. Finance. having reached the limit of its time; having become payable or due:

    a mature bond.

11. Medicine/Medical.
    1. having attained definitive form or function, as by maturation of an epithelium from a basal layer.
    2. having attained the end stage of a normal or abnormal biological process:

       a mature boil.

12. Geology. (of a landscape) exhibiting the stage of maximum topographical diversity, as in the cycle of erosion of a land surface.

verb (used with object)

, ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.

1. to make mature; ripen, as fruit or cheese.

   Synonyms: develop, age

2. to bring to full development:

   His hard experiences in the city matured him.

3. to complete or perfect:

   We matured our vision for the company.

   She matured her songwriting throughout her career.

verb (used without object)

, ma·tured, ma·tur·ing.

1. to become mature; ripen, as fruit or cheese.

   Synonyms: develop, age

2. to come to full development:

   Our plans have not yet matured.

3. Finance. to become due, as a note.

mature

/ məˈtjʊə; -ˈtʃʊə /

adjective

1. relatively advanced physically, mentally, emotionally, etc; grown-up
2. (of plans, theories, etc) fully considered; perfected
3. due or payable

   a mature debenture

4. biology
   1. fully developed or differentiated

      a mature cell

   2. fully grown; adult

      a mature animal

5. (of fruit, wine, cheese, etc) ripe or fully aged
6. (of a river valley or land surface) in the middle stage of the cycle of erosion, characterized by meanders, maximum relief, etc See also youthful old

verb

1. to make or become mature
2. intr (of notes, bonds, etc) to become due for payment or repayment

Derived Forms

• maˈturely, adverb
• maˈtureness, noun

Other Words From

• ma·turely adverb
• ma·turement noun
• ma·tureness noun
• ma·turer noun
• half-ma·tured adjective
• nonma·ture adjective
• nonma·turely adverb
• nonma·tureness noun
• over·ma·ture adjective
• over·ma·turely adverb
• over·ma·tureness noun
• self-ma·tured adjective
• semi·ma·ture adjective
• semi·ma·turely adverb
• semi·ma·tureness noun
• unma·ture adjective
• unma·turely adverb
• unma·tured adjective
• unma·turing adjective
• well-ma·tured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mature¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin mātūrus “ripe, timely, early”; akin to manes, matutinal

Word History and Origins

Origin of mature¹

C15: from Latin mātūrus early, developed

Synonym Study

See ripe.

Example Sentences

That might come, of course — sitcoms, if they’re allowed to go on, tend to mature like wine — or it might not.

From Los Angeles Times

This particular type of parmesan, which requires at least a year to mature, is created by following a process that has been in place, with little modification, for almost 1,000 years.

From BBC

They rode their luck at times and were thankful for some errant finishing from the Italians, but what they delivered was pragmatic and mature.

From BBC

The Olympic experience, Dugalić said, helped her mature as a player and as a person, which has been valuable as she’s still actively trying to find her role on this team after coming off of a season in which she posted career highs in points, rebounds and assists while starting 29 of 30 games.

From Los Angeles Times

As they got older it was apparent that Holly was more mature than Logan and they were growing apart.

From BBC

Related Words

• matured
• sophisticated