Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To suppurate; to form or discharge pus: In medical contexts, "maturate" refers to the process by which a wound, boil, or abscess develops and releases pus.
   • To mature; to develop fully: In biological or general contexts, it means to reach a state of complete development or ripeness.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Medical sense):

  • The abscess began to maturate, indicating it was ready for drainage.
  • A key step in healing is for the inflamed tissue to maturate and expel the infection.

• Verb (Developmental sense):

  • The cheese is left to maturate in the cave for several months.
  • It takes time for ideas to maturate into well-formed plans.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Technical/Medical Jargon: The term "maturate" is highly specialized. In everyday language, "fester," "suppurate," or "come to a head" are more common for the medical sense, while "mature," "ripen," or "develop" are preferred for the general sense.
• Formality: This word is formal and is primarily used in scientific, medical, or technical writing.

Variants and Related Words

• Maturation (n): The process of maturating or reaching maturity.
  • The maturation of the wine in oak barrels adds complexity.
• Mature (adj/verb): The much more common and general term for being fully developed or to become fully developed.
  • She is a mature student. / The plan needs time to mature.

Synonyms

• For "suppurate": Fester, suppurate, come to a head.
• For "develop fully": Mature, ripen, develop, grow.

Phrasal Verbs

• This verb is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms using the specific word "maturate."

Verb

1. ripen and generate pus
   • her wounds are festering
2. grow old or older
   • She aged gracefully
   • we age every day--what a depressing thought!
   • Young men senesce
3. develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation
   • He matured fast
   • The child grew fast