premature

pre·ma·ture

adjective \ˌprē-mə-ˈtyu̇r, -ˈtu̇r, -ˈchu̇r also ˌpre-\

: happening too soon or earlier than usual

: born before the normal time

Full Definition of PREMATURE

:  happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time; especially :  born after a gestation period of less than 37 weeks <premature babies>

— premature noun

— pre·ma·ture·ly adverb

— pre·ma·ture·ness noun

— pre·ma·tu·ri·ty \-ˈtyu̇r-ə-tē, -ˈtu̇r-, -ˈchu̇r-\ noun

Examples of PREMATURE

1. Her premature death at age 30 stunned her family and friends.
2. Too much exposure to the sun can cause the premature aging of skin.

Origin of PREMATURE

Latin praematurus too early, from prae- + maturus ripe, mature

First Known Use: circa 1529

Related to PREMATURE

Synonyms

inopportune, precocious, early, unseasonable, untimely

Antonyms

late

Related Words

unanticipated, unexpected, unforeseen, unlooked-for; abrupt, sudden

Near Antonyms

behindhand, belated, delinquent, latish, overdue, slow, tardy; anticipated, expected; delayed, detained, postponed

Other Embryology Terms

gravid, neonate, ontogeny, parturition

Rhymes with PREMATURE

amateur, aperture, armature, blackamoor, carrefour, carte du jour, coinsure, commissure, confiture, connoisseur, coverture, curvature, cynosure, embouchure, epicure, filature, forfeiture, garniture, geniture, green-manure, haute couture, immature, insecure, ligature, manicure, overture, paramour, pedicure, plat du jour, portraiture, prelature, quadrature, reassure, Reaumur, reinsure, saboteur, sepulture, sequitur, signature, simon-pure, sinecure, soup du jour, tablature, temperature, to be sure, troubadour, white amur, Yom Kippur