maturation
mach-uh-RAY-shuhn
/ˌmætʃ.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
The process of becoming mature or reaching full development.
Often implies reaching a peak state of readiness or 'ripeness'.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'maturus', meaning 'ripe' or 'timely'. It originally described fruit that was ready to be eaten.
Word relationships
- ripening: Ripening is specifically for fruit or crops; maturation is more formal and broad.
- deterioration: Deterioration is the process of becoming worse or breaking down.
Commonly confused with
- growth: Growth is just getting bigger; maturation is about reaching a state of completeness or functionality.
Word family
- mature (verb/adjective): To become fully developed; fully developed.
- maturity (noun): The state of being mature.
Collocations
- emotional maturation
- maturation process
- reach maturation
Example sentences
- "The maturation of the immune system continues well into childhood." Biology
- "The bond will reach maturation in five years, at which point the full value can be collected." Finance
Memory hook
Think of a 'mature' person as someone who is 'ripe' with wisdom. Ready and ripe.
When not to use
Not for mechanical processes; usually reserved for biological, psychological, or chemical processes (like wine).
Fun facts
- In psychology, 'maturation' refers to the biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior, relatively uninfluenced by experience.
Explore more words
mature, puberty, incubation, heredity, conditioned, adolescent
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