adults
English meaning: Adults
Definition
A fully grown human or animal.
Example
“The film is intended for adults rather than children.”
Another example: “In this species, the adults migrate south before the first frost.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Plural of 'adult': fully grown people or animals ('adults only', 'young adults'). Neutral register; common in age categories, biology and signage. As a modifier it can flag mature content ('adult films').
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'adultus', past participle of 'adolescere' 'to grow up'; in English from the 16th century.
Synonyms
- grown-ups
- grownups
Antonyms / Opposites
- children
- minors
- juveniles
Related Words
- larvae
- nectar
- feed
- quercus
- forewing
- wing
- adolescents
- weigh
- disabilities
- demographic
Common Collocations
- young adults
- adults only
- consenting adults
- responsible adults
- adult education
Word Forms
adult (n/adj); adults; adulthood (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
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B