mature
English meaning: Mature
Definition
Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
Example
“She is quite mature for her age.”
Another example: “The vineyard waits until the grapes are fully mature before harvesting.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An adjective meaning fully developed, ripe, or showing adult sense and emotional control. Used of people, fruit, wine, and ideas. Also a content rating ('mature audiences'). Neutral, with positive connotation when describing behaviour.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'maturus' ('ripe, timely'), in English from the 14th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- immature
- unripe
- childish
Related Words
Common Collocations
- mature student
- emotionally mature
- mature cheese
- mature audience
- fully mature
Word Forms
mature (adj/v); maturer; maturest; matured; maturity (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B