I. əˈdəlt, ˈaˌdəlt also aˈd- or ˈad ə lt adjective
Etymology: Latin adultus, past participle of adolescere to grow up, from ad- + -olescere (from alescere to grow, incho. of alere to nourish) — more at old
1. : fully developed (as in size, strength, or intellectual capacity) : fully mature : grown-up
an adult man
an adult lion
an adult plant
2. : of or belonging to adults
the standards of the adult world — Saturday Review
3. : evidencing the maturity (as the intellectual maturity) usually associated with an adult
his adult approach to the problem
4.
a. : on a par with the maturity usually associated with an adult
a thoroughly adult comedy of manners
b. : designed for or restricted to adults
adult murder mysteries that children wouldn't like
• adult·ness noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
1. : one that has arrived at full development especially in size, strength, or intellectual capacity : one that has reached full maturity
2.
a. civil law : a human male after the age of 14 or a human female after the age of 12
b. common law : a human male or female after a specific age (as 21)
III. adjective
: dealing in or with explicitly sexual material : pornographic
adult bookstore
adult movie