mature
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- grown-up, adult, full-grown, fully fledged, mellow, of age, ready, ripe, seasoned
[verb]
Synonyms:
- develop, age, bloom, blossom, come of age, grow up, mellow, ripen

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Antonyms: immature
Contrasted words: childish, childlike, boyish, green, juvenile, maiden, puerile, youthful
Related Idioms: of age, come of age
Related Words: developed, ready, blossom, flower, advance, progress, round, season, decline, deteriorate, olden, wane

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. ma‧ture¹ AC /məˈtʃʊə $ -ˈtʃʊr/ adjective
[Word Family: verb: mature; noun: maturity ≠ immaturity; adverb: maturely ≠ IMMATURELY; adjective: mature ≠ immature]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: 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 Antonym : 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 Antonym : immature:
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 British English mature cheese, wine etc has a good strong taste which has developed during a long period of time Antonym : mild:
mature cheddar

4. OLDER a polite or humorous way of describing someone who is no longer young Synonym : 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 adverb:
If you want us to treat you as an adult, you have to act maturely.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. mature² AC verb
[Word Family: verb: mature; noun: maturity ≠ immaturity; adverb: maturely ≠ IMMATURELY; adjective: mature ≠ immature]

1. [intransitive] 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. [intransitive] 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. [intransitive] if a financial arrangement such as a bond or an insurance policy matures, it becomes ready to be paid

4. [intransitive and transitive] 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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

mature
adj
VERBS be | become
ADV. fully | emotionally, physically, sexually

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

mature
verb
ADV. fully a fully matured cheese
early This variety is easy to grow and matures early.
quickly, rapidly | slowly | emotionally, physically The teenage years cover a period in which people mature physically and emotionally.
VERB + MATURE allow sth to, leave sth to The cheese is smoked and then left to mature.
PREP. into She had matured into a beautiful young woman.
to a young man who is maturing to adulthood

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

mature
adjective
BAD: He isn't matured enough to get married.
GOOD: He isn't mature enough to get married.
BAD: Replacing such a politically matured leader will not be easy.
GOOD: Replacing such a politically mature leader will not be easy.

Usage Note:
Use matured/mature when you are talking about wine, cheese etc: 'The whisky is kept here until it has matured/is mature.'
When you are talking about people, the usual word is mature : 'He's very mature for a boy of sixteen.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲