- mature
- [[t]mətjʊ͟ə(r)[/t]]
matures, maturing, matured, maturer, maturest1) VERB When a child or young animal matures, it becomes an adult.
You will learn what to expect as your child matures physically...
The eggs hatched and the chicks matured.
...young girls who'd not yet matured.
Syn:2) VERB When something matures, it reaches a state of complete development.When the trees matured they were cut in certain areas...
Their songwriting has matured.
Syn:3) VERB If someone matures, they become more fully developed in their personality and emotional behaviour.Hopefully after three years at university I will have matured...
I thought you had matured enough not to be giggly and silly about serious art.
Syn:4) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you describe someone as mature, you think that they are fully developed and balanced in their personality and emotional behaviour.They are emotionally mature and should behave responsibly...
You and I are mature, freethinking adults.
5) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n (approval) If you describe the work of an artist, writer, or musician as mature, you mean that it is thoughtful and skilful and shows that their abilities have fully developed.It is his most mature comedy yet.
6) V-ERG If something such as wine or cheese matures or is matured, it is left for a time to allow its full flavour or strength to develop.Unlike wine, brandy matures only in wood, not glass.
[be V-ed] ...the cellars where the cheeses are matured.
[V-ed] ...our best selling matured cheddar.
7) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Mature cheese or wine has been left for a time to allow its full flavour or strength to develop.Grate some mature cheddar cheese.
...the best place to enjoy fine, mature wines.
8) VERB When an investment such as a savings policy or pension plan matures, it reaches the stage when you stop paying money and the company pays you back the money you have saved, and the interest your money has earned.These bonuses will be paid when your savings plan matures in ten years' time.
...an endowment policy that matured on September 1.
9) ADJ (politeness) If you say that someone is mature or of mature years, you are saying politely that they are middle-aged or old....a man of mature years who had been in the job for longer than most of the members could remember.
English dictionary. 2008.
