Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Fully developed physically; having reached full natural growth: Describes a living organism that has completed its growth phase.
   • Ripe and ready for consumption or use: Describes fruits, cheeses, wines, or other substances that have developed their full flavor or character.
   • Characteristic of adulthood; sensible and wise: Describes a person, behavior, or plan that shows the careful thought, emotional stability, and responsibility associated with adulthood.
   • Due for payment: Describes a financial obligation, like a bond or bill, that has reached its payment date.

2. Verb:

   • To become fully grown or developed: To reach a state of physical or mental completeness.
   • To cause something to become fully developed or ripe: To bring something to a state of readiness or perfection.
   • To become due for payment: To reach the date when a financial debt must be repaid.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The mature oak tree provided shade for the entire park.
  • This is a mature cheese with a strong flavor.
  • She showed a mature attitude in handling the difficult situation.
  • The loan will become mature next month.

• Verb:

  • He matured into a fine leader. (intransitive)
  • The experience helped mature her perspective. (transitive)
  • These investment bonds will mature in ten years. (intransitive)

Advanced Usage

• "To come to maturity": To reach a state of full development.

  • The project finally came to maturity after years of work.

• "Mature beyond one's years": To display wisdom or sensibility greater than expected for one's age.

  • The young diplomat was mature beyond his years.

Variants and Related Words

• Maturity (n): The state of being mature.

  • Financial maturity is reached when the bond can be redeemed.

• Maturation (n): The process of maturing.

  • The maturation of the wine takes several years.

• Premature (adj): Happening or done before the proper time; not mature.

  • The baby was born premature.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Adult, grown-up, ripe, developed, seasoned, prudent.
• Verb: Ripen, develop, grow up, evolve, age.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Mature into: To develop into a particular form or character over time.
  • Their friendship matured into a lifelong partnership.

Related Idioms

• "Age before beauty": A humorous saying often used when yielding precedence, subtly referencing maturity (age).

  • "You go first," he said, "age before beauty."

• "The fruit of one's labors": The rewarding result of hard work, implying a process of development to maturity.

  • After decades of research, she finally enjoyed the fruit of her labors.

Adjective

1. (of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
2. fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
   • ripe peaches
   • full-bodied mature wines
3. having reached full natural growth or development
   • a mature cell
4. fully considered and perfected
   • mature plans
5. characteristic of maturity
   • mature for her age

Verb

1. cause to ripen and discharge pus
   • The oil suppurates the pustules
2. grow old or older
   • She aged gracefully
   • we age every day--what a depressing thought!
   • Young men senesce
3. cause to ripen or develop fully
   • The sun ripens the fruit
   • Age matures a good wine
4. become due for repayment
   • These bonds mature in 2005
5. develop and work out fully in one's mind
   • I need to mature my thoughts
6. develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation
   • He matured fast
   • The child grew fast