ju ‧ ve ‧ nile /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl $ -n ə l, -naɪl/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: juvenilis , from juvenis 'young person' ]
1 . [only before noun] law relating to young people who are not yet adults:
juvenile crime
a juvenile court
2 . silly and typical of a child rather than an adult – used to show disapproval SYN childish :
a very juvenile sense of humour
3 . technical juvenile birds or animals are young
—juvenile noun [countable]
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THESAURUS
▪ young not old:
a young man of about 22
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My dad died when I was young.
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There are excellent facilities for young children.
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Young people are often unable to get jobs.
▪ small/little a small child is very young. Little sounds more informal than small , and is used especially in spoken English:
They have two small children.
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We used to go camping a lot when the kids were little.
▪ teenage [only before noun] between the ages of 13 and 19:
a group of teenage boys
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They have three teenage children.
▪ adolescent especially written at the age when you change from being a child into an adult – used especially when talking about the problems that young people have at this age:
Sudden mood changes are common in adolescent girls.
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adolescent behaviour
▪ juvenile /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl $ -n ə l, -naɪl/ [only before noun] formal connected with young people who commit crime:
juvenile crime
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a special prison for juvenile offenders
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juvenile deliquents (=young people who commit crimes)
▪ youthful especially written seeming young, or typical of someone who is young – often used about someone who is no longer young:
a youthful 55 year old
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youthful enthusiasm
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Andrew still has a slim youthful look about him.
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The photograph showed a youthful, smiling Rose.
▪ junior connected with sports played by young people rather than adults:
the junior championships
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the junior champion