Words / B1

m-uh-CHOOR/məˈtʃʊə/

Mature means fully grown, or sensible like an adult: a mature student (older than the typical undergraduate); mature behaviour; mature cheese. Immature is the opposite. Grown-up is informal. Mature is also a verb (the investment matures). Do not call a child mature as faint praise if you mean polite — it can sound like you are comparing them to adults unkindly.

Meaning

Fully grown or developed; also behaving in a sensible, adult way.

Examples

• “The course is open to mature students who left school years ago.”
• “The course welcomes mature students who are changing career.”
• “The cheese is sold when it is mature, which is the food sense.”

Good to know

a mature student; mature behaviour. Opposite: immature. Verb: mature (investments, cheese). Informal: grown-up.

Near in meaning

adult

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