mature
muh-CHOOR
/məˈtʃʊər/
Fully developed physically, mentally, or emotionally; (of a plan or idea) fully thought out.
Can describe a person's character, a biological state, or even financial investments (like a bond).
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'maturus', meaning 'ripe' or 'at the right time'. Originally used in agriculture to describe crops ready for harvest.
Word relationships
- grown-up: 'Grown-up' is informal; 'mature' is more formal and can apply to non-living things.
- ripe: 'Ripe' is used for fruit; 'mature' is used for people, cheese, and wine.
- immature: Lacking the expected development or emotional control.
- puerile: Childishly silly; a much stronger negative term than immature.
Commonly confused with
- seasoned: 'Mature' implies development; 'seasoned' implies experience through time.
Word family
- maturity (noun): The state, fact, or period of being mature.
- maturation (noun): The process of becoming mature.
Collocations
- mature student
- mature reflection
- reach maturity
Idioms & expressions
- mature beyond one's years
Example sentences
- "She showed a mature attitude by admitting her mistake and offering to fix it." Personal character
- "The government bonds will mature in ten years." Finance
Memory hook
Mature people don't make a 'fuss' (choor sounds like 'sure'). Ripe and ready.
When not to use
Avoid using it as a euphemism for 'old' unless you want to sound overly polite or corporate.
Fun facts
- In the world of cheese and wine, 'maturing' is the process that develops complex flavors through controlled aging.
Explore more words
maturation, polished, precocious, deliberate, cultured, worldly
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