mature

¹ma·ture

adj \mə-ˈtu̇r, -ˈtyu̇r also -ˈchu̇r\

ma·tur·erma·tur·est

Definition of MATURE

1

: based on slow careful consideration <a mature judgment>

2

a (1) : having completed natural growth and development : ripe (2) : having undergone maturation b : having attained a final or desired state <mature wine> c : having achieved a low but stable growth rate <paper is a mature industry> d : of, relating to, or being an older adult : elderly <airline discounts for mature travelers>

3

a : of or relating to a condition of full development b : characteristic of or suitable to a mature individual <mature outlook> <a show with mature content>

4

: due for payment <a mature loan>

5

: belonging to the middle portion of a cycle of erosion

— ma·ture·ly adverb

Examples of MATURE

1. She's very mature for her age.
2. He has a mature outlook on life.
3. His parents didn't think he was mature enough to live on his own.
4. Their bodies were mature, but they still behaved like children.
5. After mature reflection, he concluded that he had been mistaken.

Origin of MATURE

Middle English, from Latin maturus ripe; akin to Latin mane in the morning, manus good

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to MATURE

Synonyms: adult, full-blown, full-fledged, matured, ripe, ripened

Antonyms: adolescent, green, immature, juvenile, unripe, unripened, young, youngish, youthful

Related Words: aged, aging (or ageing), long-lived, old, older; golden, mellow

Near Antonyms: blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering; undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with MATURE

abjure, adjure, Adour, allure, amour, Ashur, assure, brochure, ceinture, cocksure, coiffure, conjure, contour, couture, demure, detour, dirt-poor, endure, ensure, faubourg, for sure, Fraktur, grandeur, gravure, guipure, hachure, immure, impure, insure, inure, kultur, land-poor, langur, ligure, manure, mohur, obscure, parure, perdure, procure, rondure, secure, siddur, tambour, tandoor, tenure, Uighur, unmoor, velour, velure