precocious

[ pri-koh-shuhs ]

adjective

1. unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development:

   a precocious child.

2. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
3. of or relating to premature development.
4. Botany.
   1. flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
   2. bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
   3. appearing before leaves, as flowers.

precocious

/ prɪˈkɒsɪtɪ; prɪˈkəʊʃəs /

adjective

1. ahead in development, such as the mental development of a child
2. botany (of plants, fruit, etc) flowering or ripening early

precocious

/ prĭ-kō′shəs /

1. Relating to or having flowers that blossom before the leaves emerge. Some species of magnolias are precocious.

Derived Forms

• preˈcociously, adverb
• preˈcociousness, noun

Other Words From

• pre·cocious·ly adverb
• pre·cocious·ness noun
• unpre·cocious adjective
• unpre·cocious·ly adverb
• unpre·cocious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of precocious¹

1640–50; Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox ( precocity ) + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of precocious¹

C17: from Latin praecox early maturing, from prae early + coquere to ripen

Example Sentences

Josh Whitham knows a little bit about the challenges of being a precocious athlete.

From Los Angeles Times

Doctors can also prescribe puberty blockers for some conditions for which they are prescribed such as when a child begins what is called precocious puberty — as young as age 4.

From Seattle Times

A second lets doctors prescribe puberty blockers for some conditions for which they are prescribed like when a child begins what is called precocious puberty when they are as young as 4.

From Seattle Times

The young actors are winsome but inexperienced, too often forced to wrangle improbably precocious turns of phrase.

From New York Times

At first Bella babbles and stumbles around like a precocious toddler, learning to speak and move by imitating the adults around her.

From New York Times

Related Words

• bright
• cocky
• intelligent
• mature