Main Entry: ¹adult

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈdəlt, ˈa-ˌdəlt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin adultus, past participle of adolescere to grow up, from ad- + -olescere (from alescere to grow) — more at old

Date: 1531

1 : fully developed and mature : grown-up
2 : of, relating to, intended for, or befitting adults <an adult approach to a problem>
3 : dealing in or with explicitly sexual material <adult bookstores> <adult movies>

— adult·hood \ə-ˈdəlt-ˌhu̇d\ noun

— adult·ly \ə-ˈdəlt-lē, ˈa-ˌdəlt-\ adverb

— adult·ness \ə-ˈdəlt-nəs, ˈa-ˌdəlt-\ noun