1.
Something that is ~ happens earlier than usual or earlier than people expect.
Accidents are still the number one cause of ~ death for Americans...
...a twenty-four-year-old man who suffered from ~ baldness.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
The war and the years in the harsh mountains had ~ly aged him...
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj
2.
You can say that something is ~ when it happens too early and is therefore inappropriate.
It now seems their optimism was ~...
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf
~ly
Holmgren is careful not to celebrate ~ly.
ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
3.
A ~ baby is one that was born before the date when it was expected to be born.
When my daughter Emma was born she was two and a half months ~.
ADJ
~ly
Danny was born ~ly, weighing only 3lb 3oz.
ADV: ADV after v