# mature

Pronunciation: US say "muh-CHUUR" /məˈt͡ʃʊ(ə)ɹ/; UK say "muh-CHAW" /məˈt͡ʃɔː(ɹ)/

## Adjective

1. Fully developed in physical appearance, behavior, or thinking; grown-up and ripe.
   - Simple: Fully grown and developed in body, behavior, or thinking.
   - _A mature adult takes responsibility for her own mistakes._
   - _The orchard's mature trees produce more fruit each season._
5. Suitable for adults only, owing to sexual themes, violence, or similar content.
   - Simple: Meant for adults only, because of sex, violence, or strong language.
   - _The streaming service flags mature programs with a warning._
   - _Critics praised the film despite its mature subject matter._
7. Brought to a state of full readiness or completion.
   - Simple: Made completely ready and finished.
   - _The software reached a mature stage after years of refinement._
   - _Their manufacturing process is now fully mature._
11. Profound and careful; marked by thorough deliberation.
   - Simple: Based on careful, deep thinking.
   - _The committee reached its verdict only after mature deliberation._
   - _Her mature judgment guided the family through the crisis._

## Verb

2. To become mature or full-grown, physically or psychologically, gaining experience and wisdom with age.
   - Simple: To grow up and become more developed or wise over time.
   - _Teenagers mature emotionally as they face new challenges._
   - _She matured into a thoughtful, patient leader._
3. To attain maturity; to become fully grown or ripe, as fruit does.
   - Simple: To become fully grown or ripe, like fruit on a tree.
   - _Peaches mature on the branch before they are picked._
   - _In a hot climate, melons mature within weeks._
4. To proceed toward full development or completion, whether of concrete things or abstract ones like plans, judgments, or qualities.
   - Simple: To slowly develop and become complete, like a plan or idea.
   - _His political views matured as he read more widely._
   - _Let the strategy mature before committing resources to it._
6. To develop something until it is fully formed, ripe, or complete.
   - Simple: To bring something to full development or completion.
   - _Skilled editors can mature a rough draft into a polished book._
   - _Years of negotiation matured the agreement into a workable treaty._
8. To make something, such as fruit, become ripe or mature.
   - Simple: To make something, such as fruit, become ripe.
   - _Cellaring matures the wine and softens its tannins._
   - _Growers mature melons in heated greenhouses during winter._
9. To reach the date on which payment becomes due, as a bond or loan does.
   - Simple: To reach the date when a loan or bond must be paid.
   - _The treasury bills mature in ninety days._
   - _When the deposit matures, the bank returns the full amount with interest._
10. To cause someone to become mature.
   - Simple: To help someone grow up and become wiser.
   - _Responsibility for his siblings matured him early._
   - _Military service can mature a young recruit fast._

## Adjective

12. Of a sore or abscess, having come to a state of completed suppuration, fully filled with pus. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Fully filled with pus and ready to burst, like a boil.
   - _The barber-surgeon judged the boil mature and ready to be opened._
   - _Once the carbuncle was mature, the matter could be drawn off._

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 5, 7, 11–12** — This entered late Middle English as mature, from Middle French mature, which came from Latin mātūrus. It is a doublet of maduro and partly replaced the older word ripe, from Old English rīpe.
**Meanings 2–4, 6, 8–10** — This verb form comes from Middle English maturen, from Middle French maturer ("to mature"), which came from Latin mātūrō.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/mature (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).