mature

ma|ture¹ [məˈtʃuə US -ˈtʃur] adj

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1¦(sensible)¦

2¦(fully grown)¦

3¦(wine/cheese etc)¦

4¦(older)¦

5¦(novel/painting etc)¦

6 on mature reflection/consideration

7¦(financial)¦

8 mature market/industry

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[Date: 1300-1400; : Latin; Origin: maturus]

1.) ¦(SENSIBLE)¦

someone, especially a child or young person, who is mature behaves in a sensible and reasonable way, as you would expect an adult to behave

≠ ↑immature

▪ Laura is very mature for her age .

▪ We're mature enough to disagree on this issue but still respect each other.

2.) ¦(FULLY GROWN)¦

fully grown and developed

▪ Mature apple trees are typically 20 feet tall.

▪ The new leader wants his country to be seen as a mature democracy.

▪ The human brain isn't fully mature until about age 25.

physically/emotionally/sexually mature

▪ Most girls are sexually mature by about 14 years of age.

3.) ¦(WINE/CHEESE ETC)¦

BrE mature cheese, wine etc has a good strong taste which has developed during a long period of time

▪ mature cheddar

4.) ¦(OLDER)¦

a polite or humorous way of describing someone who is no longer young

= ↑middle-aged

▪ wedding fashions for mature brides

▪ a respectable gentleman of mature years .

5.) ¦(NOVEL/PAINTING ETC)¦

a mature piece of work by a writer or an artist is done late in their life and shows a high level of understanding or skill

▪ His mature work reveals a deep sense of enjoyment of nature.

6.) on mature reflection/consideration

formal after thinking carefully and sensibly about something for a long time

▪ On mature reflection we have decided to decline their offer.

7.) ¦(FINANCIAL)¦

a mature ↑bond or ↑policy is ready to be paid

8.) mature market/industry

technical a mature industry or market is one where growth is quite low and there are fewer competitors than before

>maturely adv

▪ If you want us to treat you as an adult, you have to act maturely.

mature ²

mature² v

1.) [I]

to become fully grown or developed

▪ As the fish matures, its colours and patternings change.

mature into

▪ She has matured into a fine writer.

2.) [I]

to become sensible and start to behave sensibly and reasonably, like an adult

▪ He has matured a lot since he left home.

▪ He wants to prove just how much he has matured both as a player and as a man.

3.) [I]

if a financial arrangement such as a ↑bond or an insurance ↑policy matures, it becomes ready to be paid

4.) [I and T]

if cheese, wine etc matures, or if it is matured, it develops a good strong taste over a period of time

▪ Few beers brewed in Britain are matured in the bottle.

▪ The olives are pulped, then left to mature for three years.