*mature*

n. [ L. armatura, fr. armare to arm: cf. F. armature. See Arm, v. t., Armor. ] 1. Armor; whatever is worn or used for the protection and defense of the body, esp. the protective outfit of some animals and plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Magnetism) A piece of soft iron used to connect the two poles of a magnet, or electro-magnet, in order to complete the circuit, or to receive and apply the magnetic force. In the ordinary horseshoe magnet, it serves to prevent the dissipation of the magnetic force. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) Iron bars or framing employed for the consolidation of a building, as in sustaining slender columns, holding up canopies, etc. Oxf. Gloss. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Elec.) That moving part of a dynamo or electric generator in which a current is induced by a moving through a magnetic field, or, in an electric motor, the part through which the applied current moves, thereby generating torque. The armature usually consists of a series of coils or groups of insulated conductors surrounding a core of iron. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Cf. F. climature. ] A climate. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. dis- + armature. ] The act of divesting of armature. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. immaturus; pref. im- not + maturus mature, ripe. See Mature. ] 1. Not mature; unripe; not arrived at perfection of full development; crude; unfinished; as, immature fruit; immature character; immature plans. “An ill-measured and immature counsel.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Premature; untimely; too early; as, an immature death. [ R. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Immature. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an immature manner. Warburion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being immature; immaturity. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. limatura. See Limation. ] 1. The act of filing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is filed off; filings. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Matured p. pr. & vb. n. Maturing. ] [ See Maturate, Mature. ] To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, to become due, as a note. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Maturer superl. Maturest. ] [ L. maturus; prob. akin to E. matin. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Brought by natural process to completeness of growth and development; fitted by growth and development for any function, action, or state, appropriate to its kind; full-grown; ripe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now is love mature in ear. Tennison. [ 1913 Webster ]

How shall I meet, or how accost, the sage,
Unskilled in speech, nor yet mature of age? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Completely worked out; fully digested or prepared; ready for action; made ready for destined application or use; perfected; as, a mature plan. [ 1913 Webster ]

This lies glowing, . . . and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Ripe; perfect; completed; prepared; digested; ready. -- Mature, Ripe. Both words describe fullness of growth. Mature brings to view the progressiveness of the process; ripe indicates the result. We speak of a thing as mature when thinking of the successive stayes through which it has passed; as ripe, when our attention is directed merely to its state. A mature judgment; mature consideration; ripe fruit; a ripe scholar. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Fully grown.
Syn. -- full-blown. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. 1. In a mature manner; with ripeness; completely. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With caution; deliberately. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Early; soon. [ A Latinism, little used ] Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process of maturing; coming to full development; becoming mature; maturation.
Syn. -- maturation, maturing, ripening. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The state or quality of being mature; maturity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who brings to maturity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. maturescens, p. pr. of maturescere to become ripe, v. incho. from maturus. See Mature, a. ] Approaching maturity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Form; mold. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See Mature. ] 1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pre`ma*ture"ly, adv. -- Pre`ma*ture"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]