mature

I UK [məˈtʃʊə(r)] / US [məˈtʃʊr] adjective **

1) behaving in the sensible way that you would expect an adult to behave. This is usually used about children and young people

He's more mature than the other boys in his class.

That wasn't a very mature thing to do.

a) a mature adult is no longer young, and is considered to have the good qualities of an older person, for example the knowledge and experience of how to deal with particular situations

This position would suit a mature P.A. with computer skills.

b) the mature work of an artist, writer etc is produced when they are no longer young and have developed their skill to a high level

2) a mature animal or plant has grown to its full size

The mature bull weighs around 900 kilos.

3) mature cheese, wine etc has been left to develop a pleasant strong flavour

4) a mature garden contains plants that have grown to their full size and has been looked after for a long time

Derived word:
maturely
adverb
II UK [məˈtʃʊə(r)] / US [məˈtʃʊr] verb [intransitive]
Word forms "mature":
present tense I/you/we/they mature he/she/it matures present participle maturing past tense matured past participle matured
*

1)

a) to start behaving like an adult and become more sensible as you get older

She's really matured in the last couple of years.

b) to grow to full adult size

The grey feathers become whiter as the bird matures.

2) if cheese, wine etc matures, it is left to develop a pleasant strong flavour

3) business if an investment matures, the person who owns it receives back the money that they invested and the interest that it has earned after a fixed period of time