/ ˈpremətʃə(r); NAmE ˌpriːməˈtʃʊr; -ˈtʊr/ adjective
1.
happening before the normal or expected time :
his premature death at the age of 37
2.
( of a birth or a baby ) happening or being born before the normal length of pregnancy has been completed :
The baby was four weeks premature.
a premature birth after only thirty weeks
3.
happening or made too soon :
a premature conclusion / decision / judgement
It is premature to talk about success at this stage.
► pre·ma·ture·ly adverb :
The child was born prematurely.
Her hair became prematurely white.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense ripe, mature ): from Latin praematurus very early, from prae before + maturus ripe.