mature

The word "mature" is an adjective used to describe people and things that have aged or grown to a stage of full development.

• There are several mature trees in our front yard.
• It took a long time for the trees to become mature.
• Sarah is very mature for her age. She’s only fifteen.
• Ronald is twenty-three, but he’s not very mature. He’s really immature. (immature = not mature)
• Polar bears are mature by the age of two.

This polar bear is fully mature.

You can use "mature" as a verb:

• Polar bears mature very quickly.
• Those plants have not yet matured.
• Sarah is maturing very quickly.
• How long will it take for that tree to mature?

The word "maturity" is a noun:

• The level of maturity among students in Mr. Thompson’s third hour class is very low.
• Taking responsibility for one’s own actions is a sign of maturity.
• When the plants reach full maturity, they will be harvested.

"Maturation" is also a noun:

• The maturation process is slow and painful for some teenagers.
• Artificial hormones can accelerate the maturation process in some animals.

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July 22, 2019