TOP

Definition of mature adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

mature

adjective
 
 
/məˈtʃʊə(r)/,
 
/məˈtʃɔː(r)/
 
/məˈtʃʊr/,
 
/məˈtʊr/
maturer is occasionally used instead of more matureIdioms
jump to other results

    sensible

  1.  
    (of a child or young person) behaving in a sensible way, like an adult
    • Jane is very mature for her age.
    • a mature and sensible attitude
    • She tries to look mature and sophisticated.
    opposite immatureTopics Life stagesc1, Personal qualitiesc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    • …
    See full entry
    2.

    fully grown

  2.  
    (of a person, a tree, a bird or an animal) fully grown and developed
    • sexually mature
    • a mature oak/eagle/elephant
    opposite immature
    Synonyms oldoldelderly ▪ aged ▪ long-lived ▪ matureThese words all describe somebody/​something that has lived for a long time or that usually lives for a long time.old having lived for a long time; no longer young:
    • She’s getting old—she’s 75 next year.
    elderly (rather formal) used as a polite word for ‘old’:
    • She is very busy caring for two elderly relatives.
    aged (formal) very old:
    • Having aged relatives to stay in your house can be quite stressful.
    long-lived having a long life; lasting for a long time:
    • Everyone in my family is exceptionally long-lived.
    mature used as a polite or humorous way of saying that somebody is no longer young:
    • clothes for the mature woman
    Patterns
    • a(n) old/​elderly/​aged/​long-lived/​mature man/​woman
    • a(n) old/​elderly/​aged/​mature gentleman/​lady/​couple
    Topics Life stagesc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • become
    • look
    • …
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    • …
    See full entry
    3.

    wine/cheese

  3. developed over a period of time to produce a strong, rich tasteTopics Cooking and eatingc2

    4. no longer young

  4. used as a polite or humorous way of saying that somebody is no longer young
    • clothes for the mature woman
    • a man of mature years
    5.

    work of art

  5. created late in an artist’s life and showing great understanding and skill

    6. insurance policy

  6. (business) ready to be paid
    7. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin maturus ‘timely, ripe’; perhaps related to matins.
Idioms
on mature reflection/consideration
  1. (formal) after thinking about something carefully and for a long time
See mature in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee mature in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: mature

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day