I. ma ‧ ture 1 AC /məˈtʃʊə $ -ˈtʃʊr/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ mature ; noun : ↑ maturity ≠ ↑ immaturity ; adverb : ↑ maturely ≠ IMMATURELY ; adjective : ↑ mature ≠ ↑ immature ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: maturus ]
1 . SENSIBLE someone, especially a child or young person, who is mature behaves in a sensible and reasonable way, as you would expect an adult to behave OPP immature :
Laura is very mature for her age.
We’re mature enough to disagree on this issue but still respect each other.
2 . FULLY GROWN fully grown and developed OPP immature :
Mature apple trees are typically 20 feet tall.
The new leader wants his country to be seen as a mature democracy.
The human brain isn’t fully mature until about age 25.
physically/emotionally/sexually mature
Most girls are sexually mature by about 14 years of age.
3 . WINE/CHEESE ETC British English mature cheese, wine etc has a good strong taste which has developed during a long period of time OPP mild :
mature cheddar
4 . OLDER a polite or humorous way of describing someone who is no longer young SYN middle-aged :
wedding fashions for mature brides
a respectable gentleman of mature years
5 . NOVEL/PAINTING ETC a mature piece of work by a writer or an artist is done late in their life and shows a high level of understanding or skill:
His mature work reveals a deep sense of enjoyment of nature.
6 . on mature reflection/consideration formal after thinking carefully and sensibly about something for a long time:
On mature reflection we have decided to decline their offer.
7 . FINANCIAL a mature ↑ bond or ↑ policy is ready to be paid
8 . mature market/industry technical a mature industry or market is one where growth is quite low and there are fewer competitors than before
—maturely adverb :
If you want us to treat you as an adult, you have to act maturely.
II. mature 2 AC BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ mature ; noun : ↑ maturity ≠ ↑ immaturity ; adverb : ↑ maturely ≠ IMMATURELY ; adjective : ↑ mature ≠ ↑ immature ]
1 . [intransitive] to become fully grown or developed:
As the fish matures, its colours and patternings change.
mature into
She has matured into a fine writer.
2 . [intransitive] to become sensible and start to behave sensibly and reasonably, like an adult:
He has matured a lot since he left home.
He wants to prove just how much he has matured both as a player and as a man.
3 . [intransitive] if a financial arrangement such as a ↑ bond or an insurance ↑ policy matures, it becomes ready to be paid
4 . [intransitive and transitive] if cheese, wine etc matures, or if it is matured, it develops a good strong taste over a period of time:
Few beers brewed in Britain are matured in the bottle.
The olives are pulped, then left to mature.