mature

/məˈtʃʌr/

/məˈtʃʊə/

Other forms: matured; maturing; maturer; matures; maturest

Someone who is mature acts grown up, like an adult. However, when one sister says to another, "That's so mature," she's usually using the word sarcastically, because her sister has done something very immature, like sticking out her tongue.

The adjective mature doesn't only describe advancing age, although the residents of a senior citizens' home could definitely be considered mature. Anything that is fully developed, like an aged cheese or bottle of wine, can also be called mature. The word can also refer to something that is only appropriate for people who are considered legal adults, like the movie that is for "mature audiences only."

Definitions of mature

1. adjective

   having reached full natural growth or development
   “a mature cell”

   synonyms:

   adult, big, full-grown, fully grown, grown, grownup

   (of animals) fully developed

   abloom, efflorescent

   bursting into flower

   fruiting

   capable of bearing fruit

   full-blown, matured

   fully ripe; at the height of bloom

   headed

   of leafy vegetables; having formed into a head

   marriageable, nubile

   of girls or women who are eligible to marry

   overblown

   past the stage of full bloom

   meridian, prime

   being at the best stage of development

   old

   (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

   antonyms:

   immature

   not yet mature

   adolescent

   in the state of development between puberty and maturity

   embryologic, embryonal, embryonic

   of an organism prior to birth or hatching

   inchoative

   beginning to develop

   larval

   immature of its kind; especially being or characteristic of immature insects in the newly hatched wormlike feeding stage

   prepubertal, prepubescent

   (especially of human beings) at the age immediately before puberty; often marked by accelerated growth

   prepupal

   of an inactive stage in the development of some insects, between the larval and the pupal stages

   pubescent

   (of animals especially human beings) having arrived at the onset of puberty (the age at which sex glands become functional) but not yet fully mature

   pupal

   of the insects in the chrysalis (cocoon) or post larval stage

   underdeveloped

   not yet fully developed

   premature

   born after a gestation period of less than the normal time

   immature, young

   (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
2. adjective

   fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
   synonyms: ripe

   aged, ripened

   of wines, fruit, cheeses; having reached a desired or final condition; (`aged' pronounced as one syllable)

   mellow, mellowed

   having a full and pleasing flavor through proper aging

   overripe

   too ripe and beginning to turn soft
3. adjective

   (of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
   synonyms: fledged

   fledgeling, fledgling

   (of a young bird) having acquired its flight feathers

   full-fledged, fully fledged

   (of a bird) having reached full development with fully grown adult plumage; ready to fly
4. adjective

   fully considered and perfected
   “mature plans”

   synonyms: matured

   developed

   being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
5. adjective

   characteristic of maturity
   “mature for her age”

   synonyms:

   autumnal

   characteristic of late maturity verging on decline

   mellow, mellowed

   having attained to kindliness or gentleness through age and experience

   ripe

   at the highest point of development especially in judgment or knowledge

   antonyms:

   immature

   characteristic of a lack of maturity

   adolescent, jejune, juvenile, puerile, sophomoric

   displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity

   babyish

   characteristic of a baby

   childish, infantile

   indicating a lack of maturity
6. verb

   develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation
   “He matured fast”

   synonyms: grow, maturate

   types:

   ripen

   grow ripe

   find, find oneself

   accept and make use of one's personality, abilities, and situation

   grow up

   become an adult

   come of age

   reach a certain age that marks a transition to maturity

   type of:

   develop

   grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment
7. verb

   grow old or older
   synonyms: age, get on, maturate, senesce

   types:

   turn

   become officially one year older

   fossilise, fossilize

   become mentally inflexible

   dote

   be foolish or senile due to old age

   type of:

   develop

   grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment
8. verb

   cause to ripen or develop fully
   “Age matures a good wine”

   synonyms: ripen

   type of:

   alter, change, modify

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
9. verb

   develop and work out fully in one's mind
   “I need to mature my thoughts”

   type of:

   develop, explicate, formulate

   elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
10. verb

    become due for repayment
    “These bonds mature in 2005”

    type of:

    change

    undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
11. verb

    cause to ripen and discharge pus
    synonyms: suppurate

    fester, maturate, suppurate

    ripen and generate pus

    type of:

    draw

    cause to localize at one point