mature
adjective
- relating to or being aged (e.g. adult, elderly) or fully developed
verb
- grow up, age; the inchoative event as it takes place
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /məˈt͡ʃɔː(ɹ)/ / /məˈt͡ʃʊə(ɹ)/ / /məˈtjʊə(ɹ)/
adj
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”).
- 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.”
- Brought to a state of complete readiness.
“a mature plan”
- 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.”
- Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
- Suitable for adults only, due to sexual themes, violence, etc.
“mature content”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English maturen, from Middle French maturer (“to mature”), from Latin mātūrō.
- 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.”
- To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
“[…] Trees […] have alwayes Fruit upon them, ripe, or preparing to mature;”
- 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;”
- 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.”
- To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
- 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;”
- To reach the date when payment is due.
“When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.”