— ripely , adv. — ripeness , n.
/ruyp/ , adj., riper, ripest .
1. having arrived at such a stage of growth or development as to be ready for reaping, gathering, eating, or use, as grain or fruit; completely matured.
2. resembling such fruit, as in ruddiness and fullness: ripe, red lips.
3. advanced to the point of being in the best condition for use, as cheese or beer.
4. fully grown or developed, as animals when ready to be killed and used for food.
5. arrived at the highest or a high point of development or excellence; mature.
6. of mature judgment or knowledge: ripe scholars; a ripe mind.
7. characterized by full development of body or mind: of ripe years.
8. (of time) advanced: a ripe old age.
9. (of ideas, plans, etc.) ready for action, execution, etc.
10. (of people) fully prepared or ready to do or undergo something: He was ripe for a change in jobs.
11. fully or sufficiently advanced; ready enough; auspicious: The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.
12. ready for some operation or process: a ripe abscess.
13. Archaic. drunk: reeling ripe.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE ripe; c. D rijp, G reif; akin to OE ripan to REAP ]
Syn. 1. grown, aged. RIPE, MATURE, MELLOW refer to that which is no longer in an incomplete stage of development. RIPE implies completed growth beyond which the processes of decay begin: a ripe banana. MATURE means fully grown and developed as used of living organisms: a mature animal; a mature tree. MELLOW denotes complete absence of sharpness or asperity, with sweetness and richness such as characterize ripeness or age: mellow fruit; mellow flavor.