I. ə-ˈdəlt, ˈa-ˌdəlt adjective
Etymology: Latin adultus, past participle of adolescere to grow up, from ad- + -olescere (from alescere to grow) — more at old
Date: 1531
1. : fully developed and mature : grown-up
2. : of, relating to, intended for, or befitting adults
an adult approach to a problem
3. : dealing in or with explicitly sexual material
adult bookstores
adult movies
• adult·hood ə-ˈdəlt-ˌhu̇d noun
• adult·ly ə-ˈdəlt-lē, ˈa-ˌdəlt- adverb
• adult·ness ə-ˈdəlt-nəs, ˈa-ˌdəlt- noun
II. noun
Date: 1658
: one that is adult ; especially : a human being after an age (as 21) specified by law
• adult·like ə-ˈdəlt-ˌlīk adjective